Philly Leader

Nick Castellanos, the Philadelphia Phillies outfielder, shared his thoughts on the upcoming baseball season from BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida. Reflecting on last year's performance, Castellanos acknowledged a slow start in 2024 but managed to finish strong with a .254 batting average, 23 home runs, and 86 RBIs. Despite trade rumors for the second consecutive offseason, Castellanos reached out to Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and was reassured that these reports were unfounded.

The Phillies ended their season by winning the NL East for the first time since 2011 with 95 regular-season wins. However, they faced disappointment after losing to the Mets in four games during the NL Division Series. Despite this setback, Castellanos remains focused and undeterred by past results. "I wouldn't say that 'we ended bad... so now I'm on a revenge tour,'" he remarked.

Castellanos expressed confidence in his team's potential despite media skepticism about their ability to win the World Series or make significant improvements during the offseason. "I do think we have less pressure as a team this year," he said. He noted that if they lose, it would align with expectations set by critics; however, if they win, it would be "a happy surprise."

When asked about their prospects for October success, Castellanos emphasized preparation and health over predictions. "All I know is we need to stay healthy... that's so far down the road," he commented.

Reflecting on future uncertainties with humor reminiscent of former Indiana men's basketball coach Bobby Knight's use of a glass as a crystal ball analogy during an NCAA tournament press conference, Castellanos admitted uncertainty about what lies ahead: "Maybe he should’ve brought a crystal ball to camp."