Nick Castellanos has been one of the few weaknesses for this Philadelphia Phillies juggernaut. It's been easy to look the other way at times due to the offense and the pitching playing out of their minds so far and sharing the best record in baseball at 44-19.
On the season so far for Castellanos, he has a career-worst .214/.277/.353 slash line with eight home runs and 28 RBI. He's certainly off the pace of his career .273 batting average and not what the Phillies front office was hoping for in the middle of a 5-year, $100 million contract he signed before the 2022 season.
He has some catching up to do, but over the last week, Castellanos has proven he's up to the task.
Much-maligned Phillies outfielder is finally starting to look like himself again
In his last seven games, Castellanos is hitting .333 with a 1.083 OPS, two home runs, four doubles and six RBI. Even more impressive is that he has only struck out twice during this stretch. Per MLB.com's Paul Casella, some big moments were accounted for as he hit the walk-off double to right field on Tuesday night in the 10th inning and the go-ahead home run in the fifth inning of Wednesday's sweep-clinching game against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Since he signed with Philadelphia, Castellanos has shown fans and media his personality. He is a cool and confident guy who goes about the game of baseball the way he knows how. Never flustered, no matter how he's been at the plate recently, he's always looking for the next big moment and adds a little swagger to the team.
"This is by far the best team that I've ever been on and I'm really enjoying it."
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) June 5, 2024
Castellanos is loving his Phillies and loving the special concoction that was made for his game-winning hit. 🥰 😂 pic.twitter.com/5laF5i6NZi
Castellanos is also not shy about sharing his thoughts with a microphone in front of him. His contagious energy and belief are what fans have grown to love about the slugger. With how Castellanos has been swinging the bat recently, we could be gearing up for an even better summer.
Castellanos has been a catalyst for the camaraderie and vibes of the clubhouse and seems back to his loose self, driving the ball all over the ballpark. He certainly plays a part in the identity of the Phillies and the team and fans alike can't wait to see him help lead them through another successful year.