{"id":95711,"date":"2025-09-20T08:49:13","date_gmt":"2025-09-20T08:49:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=95711"},"modified":"2025-09-20T08:49:24","modified_gmt":"2025-09-20T08:49:24","slug":"adjusting-to-diminished-role-nick-castellanos-clubs-250th-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=95711","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udea8HIT MACHINE STRIKES AGAIN: Nick Castellanos, adjusting to a diminished role, smashes his 250th career home run in dramatic fashion, sending the crowd into a frenzy as teammates rush to celebrate, social media exploding with clips of the blast and fans calling it a defining moment in his career, whispers spreading that he\u2019s still a force to be reckoned with, proving that even in a new role, Castellanos can still dominate."},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

\"Nick<\/p>\n

By ASSOCIATED PRESS<\/p>\n

Published:

\n

PHOENIX (AP) – Nick Castellanos had a good night on Friday, hitting his 250th career homer in a big spot to help the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-2.<\/p>\n

It’s a sign that the veteran slugger is adjusting to his new role, even if he doesn’t seem quite sure why it’s necessary.<\/p>\n

The two-time All-Star has had fewer at-bats over the past few weeks while struggling through an up-and-down season. A rare highlight came Friday against the D-backs, when he ripped a two-run homer to left to give the Phillies a 5-2 lead in the eighth after entering the game as a pinch hitter in the sixth.<\/p>\n

It was his first homer since Aug. 17.<\/p>\n

When asked if he was unhappy in his part-time role, the 33-year-old brushed aside the question.<\/p>\n

“I\u00b4m here, we won a baseball game, I hit my 250th, I have a good relationship with the guys in this clubhouse,” Castellanos said. “I\u00b4m here to win. (Owner) John Middleton is paying me money so that I can help the Philadelphia Phillies win a World Series.”<\/p>\n

Castellanos has lost playing time in a crowded outfield that includes Harrison Bader, Brandon Marsh, Max Kepler and Weston Wilson. He said communication with Phillies manager Rob Thomson over his four-year tenure with the club has been “questionable, at least in my experience.”<\/p>\n

Still, he doesn’t want to be a distraction.<\/p>\n

“I play whenever he tells me to play,” Castellanos said. “I sit whenever he tells me to sit.”<\/p>\n

Thomson said he appreciated that Castellanos was trying his best in the new role.<\/p>\n

“It’s very difficult, it really is,” Thomson said. “For a guy that’s played every day since he’s come to the big leagues, and probably even in the minor leagues, to take on this role is difficult. I think he’s trying to adjust.<\/p>\n

“I think after tonight, that tells me something that he’s starting to get a feel for it.”<\/p>\n

Castellanos is signed through next season on a $100 million, five-year deal. He said he’s not thinking about what’s in store for 2026 considering what’s at stake over the next month.<\/p>\n

The Phillies have already clinched the NL East and have won 16 of their past 21 games.<\/p>\n

“Why would I do that in front of what we have ahead of us?” Castellanos said. “That would be really selfish and take away with what we’re trying to do as a group.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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