Aug 18, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos (8) celebrates in the dugout after scoring a run during the second inning against the Seattle Mariners at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Eric Hartline
Rob Thomson responded Saturday afternoon to the frustration that Nick Castellanos displayed following the Phillies' 2-1 win over the Atlanta Braves Friday.
Despite having an outfield assist earlier in the game, Castellanos was removed for a defensive replacement in the ninth inning Friday with the Phillies clinching to a one-run lead. Harrison Bader came in to play center field, pushing Brandon Marsh to left field and Max Kepler to right field.
Castellanos acknowledged after the game — you can read the full transcript of his meeting with the media —that it is frustrating to be removed for a defensive replacement when he's worked hard to improve his defense.
Nick Castellanos was asked if it’s frustrating to be replaced defensively in the ninth after having a pretty solid game defensively.
“Yes.”
(Via @TimKellySports) pic.twitter.com/GAmsJQKScn
Prior to Castellanos talking, Thomson said of the two-time All-Star's buy-in on late-game removals that "I think we're all at the point now where we're all in and whatever is best for the team to win a game that night, we're all in. Check your ego at the door and let's go."
But is Castellanos — an accomplished player on a $100 million contract — able to check his ego?
"Oh, absolutely," Thomson said Saturday. "Hey look, we don't need to make a big deal out of this. He's frustrated because he wants to play, and that's it. I understand that. I wouldn't respect a guy if he wanted to come out of a game."
Rob Thomson on Nick Castellanos: “I wouldn’t respect a guy if he wanted to come out of a game.”
(Via @TimKellySports) pic.twitter.com/ECVbYQP9Aj
It is worth remembering, though, that the reason this was a story postgame Friday was because when Castellanos was pulled for a defensive replacement during the Miami series in June, he made an "inappropriate comment" to Thomson that resulted in him being benched the next day.
Defensive metrics — such as his minus-11 defensive runs saved and minus-12 outs above average — suggest that it was the right decision to lift Castellanos, despite him having had a crucial outfield assist earlier in the night. But they also suggested that back in June, and since Castellanos made clear he was upset with being pulled, Thomson hasn't made a habit of doing it. He said Friday that a situation where Castellanos had just batted and you weren't at risk of losing his bat if he was about to come up the next inning hadn't come up. But as Anthony SanFilippo noted last night, that's not really the case. There have been opportunities between Miami and last night to remove Castellanos for a defensive replacement, and the Phillies haven't done so. You can draw your own conclusions as to why that is, and what may happen moving forward after the latest removal turned into a news cycle.
One thing Castellanos did reveal Friday evening is that it was first base coach Paco Figueroa that told him he was coming out of the game, not Thomson. The reason for that, per Thomson, was that Castellanos was on base when the bottom of the eighth inning ended. What would normally happen in that scenario is that someone would bring his hat and glove out to him, and he wouldn't return to the dugout. So Figueroa, already on the field, was in position to tell Castellanos, as opposed to Thomson in the dugout.
Rob Thomson on why Paco Figueroa told Nick Castellanos he was coming out of the game.
(Via @TimKellySports) pic.twitter.com/jXZwF9yTaC
Earlier this month, Castellanos told On Pattison that there continues to be mutual respect between him and Thomson, despite him now losing playing time against right-handed pitchers. Certainly, you get that impression when talking to Thomson about Castellanos.
Even if Castellanos isn't thrilled about his role right now, this all feels like it can be managed for the rest of 2025, as the Phillies try to get over the hump and win a World Series. Perhaps Castellanos will get hot at the plate — he's hitting just .197 with a .554 OPS since the All-Star Break — and play his way back into an everyday role.
But despite Castellanos being under contract for $20 million next season, it does feel like this relationship may not be able to continue another year if the Phillies aren't willing to guarantee Castellanos — who acts as his own agent — an everyday role, one where he won't be removed for a defensive replacement.
