The Philadelphia Phillies have had a successful season in 2024.
Yes, the ball club struggled for about a month coming out of the All-Star break, but that doesn’t take away what they were able to accomplish in the first half of the season.
There’s one player on this Phillies team that might not be getting the recognition he deserves.
Nick Castellanos’ numbers aren’t eye-popping, but he’s put together a very good season for the Phillies. The right fielder is slashing .249/.301/.418 with 18 home runs, 47 extra-base hits and 71 RBI.
Castellanos started the season off slow with a .233 batting average and 91 strikeouts before the All-Star break. It looked as though the 32-year-old was in for a rough year which caused frustration among the fans.
Castellanos turned his season around coming out of the All-Star break and looks like the $100 million player the Phillies expect him to be. He’s slashing .290/.333/.493 with a .826 OPS, five home runs, 17 extra-base hits, 24 RBI and just 24 strikeouts in that span.
He’s not just getting things done at the plate, he’s also playing an above-average right field for the Phillies. Castellanos has been known more for his presence at the plate throughout his 12-year career. His level of play in the outfield has been a huge boost to the Phillies’ defense this season.
Castellanos is Mr. Consistency for the 2024 Phillies Team
Castellanos is a player who doesn’t miss many games, if any. He’s yet to miss a game in 2024. This is something that doesn’t happen often in a 162-game season. The reason he might not be getting the recognition he deserves is because it’s hard to see significant improvements in a player’s overall numbers when they’re playing every day and getting three-to-five at-bats each game.
Castellanos deserves a lot of credit for his preparation and approach at the plate. He works extremely hard taking extra batting and fielding reps before games when he doesn’t have to. He sticks to his plan and does what works best for him. Although it might drive fans crazy at times, Castellanos tries not to think too much at the plate. He goes up there ready to swing and make contact with the ball. It’s paying off for him as of late.
The Phillies are one game back in the National League standings behind the Los Angeles Dodgers with 29 games left in the regular season. They sit five games ahead of the Atlanta Braves in the NL East.
Castellanos has played a huge part in the Phillies success this season and might just be the unsung hero of the 2024 Phillies team.
PHOTO: ClutchPoints
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