Nick Castellanos gives candid interview about role, manager, World Series hopes after hitting 250th home run
PHOENIX — Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos hit the 250th home run of his career in an 8-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
For Castellanos, it was a great day in what has been a tough stretch for the 33-year-old. He lost his job as the team’s everyday right fielder. He is trying to figure out how to navigate an unfamiliar role.
He won’t play Saturday against a right-handed starter, Rob Thomson said after the game, but with eight games left in the regular season, the Phillies manager left the door open for Castellanos to earn some of his playing time back.
“Who knows? We all know Nick can get hot. As hot as anybody,” Thomson said. “If he gets on one of those streaks, you never know.”
Castellanos, in a candid interview with reporters after the game in the clubhouse, expressed frustration with the communication from the manager’s office and discussed the challenges of his new role.
The right fielder was asked about his 250th home run in his postgame interview with Scott Franzke and Ruben Amaro Jr.
Q: Talk to us about your home run. I know it’s been a different way of life for you. I know you’re not playing every day. You’re trying to put your swing together with limited at-bats. How good did that feel to get a hold of that one?
Nick: It felt good.
Here is the full conversation between Castellanos and the reporters present in the clubhouse.
Full Transcription of Nick Castellanos’ Interview With Reporters
Q: Nick, I happened to catch you at batting practice. It seemed like you had a really good one before the game tonight.
Nick: Thank you.
Q: Did you feel that? Did you feel something like that coming in? Was it especially good for you?
Nick: Which part?
Q: The batting practice?
Nick: No. I think it was just pretty consistent.
Q: Have you found a way to adjust to the role that you’re in now? Or how do you think you adjusted?
Nick: I don’t know, man. It’s still brand new, right? I’m just making stuff up as I go along. Some days, I don’t do anything. Some days I go out for batting practice. It’s just kind of how I feel.
Q: Do you think maybe something that you did today is something that you can go forward with? You took BP today, you didn’t do what else?
Nick: Say that again?
Q: Is whatever you did today something maybe you could go forward with? Because you had a good day once you entered the game in the fifth inning. Whatever inning it was. Sixth?
Nick: Sixth inning? Yeah, I hit batting practice today. Maybe I’ll hit it again tomorrow. It’s a good idea.
Q: Feeling any more comfortable in this role? Just coming into a game, you know, pinch hitting. The first at-bat was a pretty good at-bat.
Nick: I think anything that I do more often, I’d get better at it. For sure.
Q: How disappointed are you with not playing everyday?
Nick: That’s a controversial question, so I’m going to skip that.
Q: OK. You went on Mookie’s podcast and you said that the media was coming up with narratives for the season. What would be your own narrative for the season?
Nick: I’m here to do whatever I can to make sure Philadelphia wins a World Series ring. Whatever role that looks like, just do the best I can with that.
Q: You mentioned in that interview about your knee. That play in New York.
Nick: Sure.
Q: Has that affected you? I mean, I know you don’t want to make an excuse, but maybe does that explain anything about the last couple of months?
Nick: I mean, it hasn’t been 100%. That’s for sure. But again, I’m not going to sit here and say that’s the reason. I’ve performed well hurt before.
Q: Does a night like tonight help you embrace this new role? Just saying, “Hey, I can come off the bench and still help this team win.” If you had any doubts, in other words?
Nick: I mean, like I told you in the dugout before the game. Any time that I step into the box, there’s a chance that something big can happen.
Q: Do you understand why you haven’t been playing as much as you normally would?
Nick: I don’t really talk to Rob all that often. So that’s just – I play whenever he tells me to play. Then I sit whenever he tells me to sit.
Q: (Inaudible) Rob doesn’t sit down and explain to you what they want you to do? Whatever role they want you to have?
Nick: Communication over the years has been questionable, at least in my experience. But also, I grew up communicating with somebody like my father, who is very blunt, direct and consistent.
Q: Did you find it different with different managers?
Nick: Every manager has their own style.
Q: Has it been worse this year? Or consistent over the last four years?
Nick: I don’t really know how to answer that question.
Q: It’s kind of surprising to hear because most people say that (Rob’s) strength is communicating with his players and talking to his players every day?
Nick: Who says that?
Q: The guys in here that have been winning with him since 2022. You’ve had a different experience than those guys?
Nick: It’s just been times where things have been said. Over the course of the years, I’ll have expectations because I’ll latch on to what’s being said and then actions will be different. And then I’m kind of left, you know, just thinking and what not. Again, like, it is what it is. Come back. Do what I can. At the end of the day, we’re here to win the World Series.
Q: What do you think your future is here?
Nick: I show up tomorrow and play a game against the Diamondbacks. And that’s my future.
Q: And you’re not thinking about anything about next year? Anything like that?
Nick: Why would I do that in front of what we have ahead of us? That would be really selfish and take away from what we’re trying to do as a group.
Q: So, it sounds like you’re unhappy, but –
Nick: That would be creating a narrative.
Q: OK. Are you unhappy?
Nick: I’m here. We won a baseball game. You know, I hit my 250th. I have a good relationship with the guys in this clubhouse.
Q: And you’re going to do what it takes to win a World Series.
Nick: To win. John Middleton is paying me money so that I can help the Philadelphia Phillies win the World Series.
(Phillies PR representative attempts to end the interview.)
Q: Did you get the ball?
Nick: No. Not yet.
Q: Do you keep stuff like that?
Nick: I usually give it to my parents.