Nick Castellanos Benched, Says Phillies Manager Feels He 'Crossed' Line with Comments

Philadelphia Phillies manager Rom Thomson and right-fielder Nick Castellanos both confirmed to reporters that the veteran outfielder was held out of Tuesday's lineup against the Miami Marlins following comments he made Monday after being pulled.

"I wasn't happy about it, spoke my mind," Castellanos told reporters. "He said that I crossed a line. So my punishment is I'm not playing."

"It's his decision," he added. "He's the manager."

It will end Castellanos' streak of 236 straight games started. Max Kepler will take his place in right field, with Brandon Marsh filling in for Kepler in left field. Thomson made the same adjustment in the bottom of the eighth inning during Monday's 5-2 win, with Johan Rojas playing center.

The 33-year-old Castellanos is having a solid if unspectacular season for the Phillies, hitting .278 with seven homers, 36 RBI, 31 runs and a .746 OPS. Philadelphia is riding a five-game win streak and is now 43-29 on the season, two games back of the New York Mets in the NL East.

While Castellanos has never replicated his epic 2021 season with the Cincinnati Reds (34 homers, 100 RBI, .939 OPS) since signing a five-year, $100 million contract with Philly the following winter, he hit a combined 52 homers and 192 RBI between the 2023-24 season. He's also made the adjustment to right field after Bryce Harper was moved to first base and helped the Phillies reach the playoffs in three straight seasons.

The Phillies are currently without Bryce Harper, who is on the injured list with right wrist inflammation, leaving them without two key bats in the middle of the order for Tuesday's matchup with the Marlins.