While his 2025 season wasn't his best, new Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Adolis García still had a better showing than Nick Castellanos, proving that 2026's roster is already getting an upgrade. Especially with García's glove.
While "El Bombi" has been known in the past for his offensive pop, he had a significant impact on the Texas Rangers' outfield. The Phillies recently signed the 32-year-old righty to a one-year deal, and he could be a substantial component on both sides of the ball if Phillies hitting coach Kevin Long can get through to him to get back to his 2023 stride offensively while maintaining his defensive success.
As mentioned earlier this offseason as to who would be the best outfield fit offensively for the middle of the Phillies lineup, all eyes were on García, who was non-tendered by the Rangers. His bat will fit right in, hopefully balancing Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper perfectly from the right side of the plate.
Adolis García's right field defense could be a game-changer for the Phillies
What's even better than getting a potential solution to your power problems? Getting a two-time All-Star who will provide Gold Glove-caliber defense in right field will also change the game for the Phillies next season. While the Citizens Bank Park right field is not as challenging as that at Fenway or Petco Park, it still presents its own challenges, as does the right field at Globe Life Field.
Even when defense was Castellanos' strongest point, his metrics couldn't keep up with García's, showing just why the Phillies are right to trust him with right field.
García, in just 128 games (1,124 innings) in the field last season for the Rangers, racked up 16 defensive runs saved (DRS), which quantifies how many runs a player saves or costs their team based on all the defensive plays they've made. That led all right fielders ahead of both Wilyer Abreu of the Boston Red Sox and Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres.
By comparison, Nick Castellanos posted -11 DRS in 1,208 1/3 innings in 2025. In Castellanos' 2023 All-Star season, he performed well enough that his nosedive defensively over the past two seasons caused alarm.
Another metric to consider when comparing García and Castellanos is outs above average (OAA), which measures the number of outs a player either costs or saves their team by how well they read the ball from their position in the field. This past season, García's +1 OAA saved the Rangers one out, while the Phillies lost 12 thanks to Castellanos' -12 OAA, which tied for worst in the majors in right field.
Additionally, García's arm strength ranked in the top eight percent in MLB in 2025, while Castellanos ranked in the 30th percentile. If the Phillies continue with the trio of García, Brandon Marsh, and future Rookie of the Year candidate Justin Crawford, then it will be comforting to know that at least both right and center field will be well manned defensively.
While Castellanos' future in Philadelphia is all but over, there were some highs with his tenure with the club. One could always count on his postseason heroics, especially in the 2024 NLDS against the Mets, so hopefully, he'll get a chance to prove himself somewhere else in 2026.
As for the Phillies, right field will be covered in 2026 with García patrolling the corner.