Sep. 27: As planned, Castellanos has been reinstated, according to an announcement from the Phillies. Catcher Donny Sands was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.
Sep. 24: Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos is planning to return to the lineup on Tuesday, when the Phils begin a three-game series with the Cubs. Castellanos hasn’t played since September 2 due to an oblique strain, but after taking part in baseball activities today, he believes he is ready to get back onto the field without the benefit of a minor league rehab assignment.
“[The team] asked if I think I need one and I said no,” Castellanos told NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jim Salisbury and other reporters. “I just feel like the sooner I can get back and play and lose myself in a baseball game, the better….I’ve known so many people that have gone down and done fantastic in their rehab assignments and then have come up and it’s a new game. My philosophy is the sooner I can get back into a game that’s important, the better.”
Another set of on-field activities are slated for tomorrow, and if Castellanos comes out of those workouts feeling good, it would seem as if he’ll be activated from the 10-day injured list in time for Tuesday’s game. (The Phillies don’t play on Monday.) Castellanos said that swinging a bat was the last step in his rehab, as he hadn’t had any issues running or throwing for several days. In general, Castellanos said that “I wouldn’t say [I feel] 100 percent, but I don’t feel like I need to be 100 percent. I just don’t want to feel restricted or like I could injure myself again.”
As the Phillies continue to battle for an NL wild card slot, Castellanos is certainly eager to return to the playoff race after missing much of September. Adding to his frustration, Castellanos was seemingly breaking out of his season-long slump at the time of his injury. Castellanos hit .318/.348/.505 over his last 112 plate appearances prior to his IL stint, after delivering a disappointing .250/.294/.367 slash line in his first 419 PA of the season. Matt Vierling, Phil Maton, and Dalton Guthrie have seen the bulk of work in right field in Castellanos’ absence.
Nick Maton has been playing in Castellanos’ absence. Phil is a pitcher for the Astros
Mentally I refer to him as Nicky Bats, so when I read that….it took a second…
Fans in Philly have been roasting Castellanos for his lack of power all season long (still has 27 2bs). The above trio has done well in his stead…..But I feel the Phils need him back in rf, just hitting 6th.
Think the pressure got to him a bit….?
I still think this will turn out to be a good signing. In 2023, when he and Schwarber can each DH 40% of the time the results should be better….
He was a bad signing and doesn’t appear to be a team player.
“doesn’t appear to be a team player” This is pure fan-nonsense. Also you can’t call him a bad signing yet. You can say he had a bad first year. I’d agree, but compare him to someone like Lindor. Lindor was getting killed in the press last year. This year he’s a hero. Nicky C can be that next year. I’m not saying he will, but it’s possible.
His teammates appear to like him. His defense was known – and he’s improved some. He’s not a good situational hitter, and that was known as well.
I know his wife had their child early in the season, and while he initially was juiced and went on a tear hitting, shortly thereafter he pulled back. Maybe that’s related, maybe not. Players are human beings not rotisserie league statistics. 2022 has been a bad season for Mr. Castellanos. His organization and teammates are supporting him. Let’s see what happens in 2023 – hopefully Harper can play some RF and Nick can do some DH’ing.
You can call it whatever you like but $20m/year for -.3 war is bad…
Guy has an attitude problem. Don’t think he was a good signing. Hope they trade him in the off season.
What do you base that on?
He’s always been cocky when talking to the media. None of us have any idea how he is with his teammates.
Yeah he has rabbit ears. Philly is the last place you want to play if you have that.
An altitude problem? Maybe he needs to play all his games at sea level. No more trips to the Rockies
He was in the MVP running last year and was pretty mediocre this season. So it’s a definite letdown, but to your point, I think he can come around. Perhaps next season.
I mean a far running, but still he was in the top 15 or so.
Actually was 12th in mvp voting. Supposedly wanted to go to Miami. They didn’t offer anything… Not sure if Philly is the right fit for him…
So what terrible event will coincide with his return?
Yeah, guys like Maton, Vierling and Guthrie have filled in admirably, but opposing pitchers don’t have the same respect for them as they would for Castellanos. To wit, they know Castellanos can hurt them big time with one swing of the bat.
Also, if he does bat sixth as a previous poster suggested, that might give Harper and Realmuto better pitches to hit.
As an aside, given all the injuries we’ve had, I give the Phillies huge kudos for being where they are in the standings this morning this late in the season: 1 1/2 games ahead of the Brewers and just a 1/2 game behind the Padres.
If we make the playoffs, and it isn’t exactly a slam dunk that we do, I’m fine with Nola, Wheeler and Suarez as my starting three SP in that initial three-game playoff series.
Call me crazy, but I think the Phillies will surprise a few people in the playoffs.
…..and Castellanos is hitting 6th tonight ….Let’s get a W in Chic….
Need at least 2 wins in Chicago. Phillies are a bad road team, but it’s crunch time.
They need to win the first inning. I can’t remember the last time they had a lead after the first at bat.
Castellanos had a slow start to his Phillies career, but the guy can hit. He will be fine. Overreacting boo birds just like to troll negativity.
I mean the guy hasn’t performed that well on both sides of the ball. His fielding would be fine if he was hitting better, and his hitting would be fine if he fielded better. But it’s tough to be excited when he’s not doing either in an above-average fashion
The.criticism is fair. U know it’s ok to criticize a millionaire player. It doesn’t automatically make a you a troll troll stop being soooo sensitive about players
I don’t see anyone being sensitive.
It wasn’t towards u it was towards Rutgers saying people r trolling negatively it’s not trolling if people give their opinion
No offense folks, but Nicky has been stinkin’ up the diamond in 2022. Better luck in 2023
Thom Brennaman will be happy.
As punishment, Thom has been cleaning human dookie off the streets of San Francisco. I saw it in an American Express commercial.
Set to be an exciting last week & 1/2 in NL wild card race & NL east!
Everybody loved his, “I did not go to college, I hit baseballs” shirt….Guy has to have a sense of humour…His first press conference went very well…
His issue w/ the Philly press guy was 2 way b.s. listen to it….Philly press guy was in the wrong.
And a huge chunk of that interview was cut…a portion that shows both sides in a better light. I love Nick’s personality personally, and I think the team likes him too. I just want him to break out.
The fact that he was aggressive towards Jim Salisbury, who is the most veteran and respected of all sports journalists in Philly, is telling. Dude you’re making $20/year in this city and not producing. You’re gonna get booed. Maybe that’s why he wanted to play in Miami. He could steal money and no one would notice since 3,000 fans only show up to the games.
Love Jim, but it was a dumb question.
It’s altogether possible it was a bad signing….and he’s still going to hit well at some point. His true talent level isn’t this–and it wasn’t the 51 games he played for the Cubs in 2019.
Despite his previous success, I don’t think he’s ever been a disciplined hitter. The down and away breaking ball has been his kryptonite this year. Even when they catch the bottom of the strike zone, he’s seemed to have a lot of trouble making contact.
Thom Brennaman approves
The Phillies have a firm two-handed grip on their own throats. What an infuriating team !
5th year in a row with a September swoon