Phillies’ Nick Castellanos Benched for Making ‘Inappropriate Comment’

Phillies manager Rob Thomson benched Nick Castellanos on Tuesday for making what he called an “inappropriate comment” after the veteran outfielder was removed from Monday’s game in Miami.

Castellanos has made two All-Star teams in his 12-year career, based more on the strength of his 240 career home runs than his glove. He was removed in favor of Johan Rojas in the eighth inning of Monday’s game against the Marlins, a game the Phillies won 5-2.

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This season, Castellanos has a .278 batting average and .746 OPS.

Castellanos told reporters Tuesday that he was unhappy with being pulled from the game, then spoke his mind. Thomson told the 33-year-old he’d crossed a line.

“So my punishment is I’m not playing,” Castellanos said, via Lochlahn March of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

“It’s his decision,” Castellanos added, via Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic. “He’s the manager.”

Castellanos had yet to miss any of the Phillies’ 72 games this season.

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Castellanos is in the fourth year of a five-year, $100 million contract he signed with the Phillies in March 2022. He’s largely lived up to his billing as a bat-first corner outfielder, averaging 22 home runs and 85 RBIs per season from 2022-24.

Castellanos was chosen for the National League All-Star team in 2023 for the second time in his career. He also collected downballot MVP votes while hitting .272 with 29 home runs and a career-high 106 RBIs for the Phillies.

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Castellanos had a career year in 2021, hitting .309 with 34 home runs and 100 RBIs for the Cincinnati Reds. That year, he made his first NL All-Star team, collected a Silver Slugger Award and finished 12th in MVP voting.

While benching a veteran of Castellanos’ caliber is rare, the Phillies are perhaps in a good position to absorb his absence Tuesday. They’ve won five games in a row, improving to 43-29 and second place in the National League East.

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Miami is 28-42, fifth place in the five-team division entering the second game of the four-game series at loanDepot Park.

Former Marlins left-hander Jesus Luzardo is expected to start for the Phillies against Miami right-hander Cal Quantrill in the 6:10 p.m. game.

Brandon Marsh (in left), Rojas (in center), and Max Kepler (in right) will occupy the Phillies’ outfield positions in Castellanos’ absence.

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