Phillies sit Nick Castellanos for ‘inappropriate comment’ to manager

Field Level Media|published: Tue 17th June, 18:52 2025

MLB: Toronto Blue Jays at Philadelphia Phillies

Jun 14, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos (8) fields a fly ball against the Toronto Blue Jays in the sixth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson told reporters before Tuesday's game at the Miami Marlins that Nick Castellanos was benched after making an "inappropriate" comment to Thomson.

In the eighth inning of a 5-2 series-opening win Monday, Thomson removed Castellanos from the outfield in favor of Johan Rojas as a defensive replacement. That's what prompted Castellanos to say something to Thomson that the manager deemed out of order.

"I understand the decision," Castellanos said Tuesday, per The Athletic. "It was when I got taken out. I wasn't happy about it. I spoke my mind. (Thomson) said that I crossed a line, so my punishment is that I'm not playing."

Max Kepler will start in Castellanos' usual spot in right field while batting cleanup for the Phillies on Tuesday.

The decision ends Castellanos' streak of 236 straight games started, which was the second-longest active streak in the major leagues behind Matt Olson of the Atlanta Braves. Olson is in the lineup for the 686th straight game Tuesday.

Castellanos, 33, is in his fourth season in Philadelphia and is batting .278 with seven home runs and 36 RBIs through 72 games.

--Field Level Media