We all know Nick Castellanos got off to a dreadful start in 2024. As late as May 28th, he was hitting under .200. His batting average is still at just .219, but he added his 3rd walk-off hit of the season Tuesday night.
This time, it came against Robert Suarez. Coming into this game, Suarez was a perfect 17 for 17 in save opportunities with a 0.61 ERA.
All the signs seem to be present that Castellanos is starting to come around. He had a rough series in Baltimore, but since May 29th, Castellanos has been quietly finding success at the plate.
In his last 12 games before the Orioles series, Castellanos was slashing .287/.327/.612 with 8 extra-base hits. That was while having a .290 BAbip, which indicates that he wasn’t getting lucky with his hits.
“When he was hitting in the 2 [hole], he was actually having some good at-bats,” said manager Rob Thomson.
And that Baltimore series could be chalked up to a lengthy time traveling for Castellanos and the Phillies. “We were on the road for what seemed like an entire month. To be able to just come back [to] a familiar field, environment with the support of our fans, it just happened,” Castellanos said on Monday’s offensive outburst. It can definitely be applied for Tuesday as well. Even though the Phillies scored just 4 runs, they recorded 13 hits and 4 walks.
Four of those hits belonged to Castellanos.
In his 1st 2 home games since June 5th, Castellanos is now 6/9 at the plate with 4 doubles. “Nick can be very streaky, as we know,” said Thomson. “He’s had pretty good at-bats here the last couple of days.”
Nick Castellanos had been out for early batting practice before both Monday and Tuesday’s games, hitting on the field with his son Liam.
“I think it’s just better to work. It’s more concentrated. There’s more focus to it. It’s good to do that every once [in] a while,” said Thomson. “Anytime you get on the field for early work, extra hitting is good.”
Thomson was asked if there’s any pattern to Nick Castellanos’ streakiness and what points to a turnaround with him. “He uses the field. He stays balanced. He sees the ball and he uses right center to left center, right field line. Because that’s who he is. That’s how he’s had all the success he’s had over the years,” Thomson responded.
That seems to be the case with Castellanos these past couple of games. He’s used the whole field to his advantage. His walk-off hit to win Tuesday night’s game couldn’t have been placed more perfectly on the right-field line than it was. A foot further right, it would’ve been foul. A foot left, Fernando Tatis Jr. catches it.
Castellanos is still hitting just .219 this season, but there are several encouraging signs around him. In a full season, he has never hit under .253. He has long streaks in him, good and bad. Now could be the start of a good one.
As a reminder, Castellanos, in his first 81 games last season, slashed .316/.358/.516. He can do it again.
