Nick Castellanos has shown up every day. Rain or shine, lose or win, the Philadelphia Phillies player was there for his team, game after game—236 games to be precise. So when the fans scanned Tuesday’s lineup ahead of the second game against the Marlins and didn’t see his name, the reaction was pure shock—where is Nick?
But before you think it is an injury or a much-needed rest, it is neither. It was actually discipline. This shakeup stemmed from a moment that happened the night before. In the top of the eighth inning, Castellanos flied to center field. A few minutes later, he was pulled for a defensive adjustment. Johan Rojas then took over in center, Brandon Marsh went to left and Max Kepler to right. This is when things got tense.
After the game, Castellanos didn’t hide his frustrations. According to reports, he voiced his concerns to manager Rob Thomson. The skipper was not thrilled about how the conversation ended up, and hence that was that. “He crossed a line,” Thomas had reportedly said—Castellanos was then benched.
Castellanos said he was unhappy with being pulled from yesterday’s game, then spoke his mind. Thomson told him he’d crossed a line.
“It’s his decision. He’s the manager.”
— Charlotte Varnes (@charlottevarnes) June 17, 2025
But when asked about the benching, Castellanos didn’t add more fuel to the fire. He had a simple six-word response: “It’s his decision.” He’s the manager.” Sharp, witty answer that said plenty of things without escalating things. However, it is crucial to remember that this is not some clubhouse war. If anything, this feels like a reset button.
Plus, with Bryce Harper already on the IL, the Philadelphia Phillies are short on fire already. So while Castellanos might be having a quiet year by his standards, he is still a key bat for the team. Right now, he has a .278 average, seven home runs, and 36 RBIs. But don’t let these numbers fool you because for someone who smashed 34 homers in a single season, anything is possible. Now, while things got a little tense with Nick Castellanos, just as one Phillies star hit pause on one game, another is heating up in a big way.
Philadelphia Phillies’ slumping star flips the script
If you didn’t notice, Alec Bohm has been etching a quiet comeback story. Just a month and a half ago, fans were starting to get worried. They were wondering if the Philadelphia Phillies should move on from their former top pick. And why not? Bohm’s stats were brutally average. He was slashing just .221/.252/.274 through his first 58 games. Plus, no power, and also no homers! Also, the postseason scars are still fresh from last year’s playoffs against the Mets.
People questioned whether Bohm had more potential than production. But, well, Bohm showed up big time. Since May 1, the 28-year-old has really turned over a new leaf. He is batting. 329 with seven home runs and 23 RBIs over the next stretch. This is not just another good month, but all-star-level stuff. Plus, it looked so similar to how he looked at the start of the last season, when he got his first all-star nod.
Now consistency has been one area that needs work. Plus, now with Rafael Devers being traded to the Giants, it’s hard to imagine Philly finding someone as impactful as Bohm at third base to face off. Plus, they are already juggling roster questions with Bryce Harper out. So, as far as the trade rumors go, it seems like there is not a chance, as the Phillies need him now more than ever.
What do you think—will he be on the trade chopping block?
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