Nick Castellanos isn’t taking to his late-game defensive replacement well — once again.
The Phillies outfielder was pulled from Friday night’s 2-1 win over the Braves before the final frame for the slick-fielding Harrison Bader.
“He makes near the last out in the eighth inning,” manager Rob Thomson explained, “so we put Bader in because he’s the best defender we’ve got.”
“I think we’re all at the point now where we’re all-in. Whatever is best for the team to win a game that night, we’re all-in. Check your ego at the door and let’s go.”
Castellanos doesn’t appear to be taking it well, though.
“It’s a big adjustment,” Castellanos told reporters after the game, adding that it’s been difficult but he’s dealing with it “the best [he] can.”
Castellanos said “there was no conversation” between him and Thompson about the move.
“[Outfield coach] Paco [Figueroa] was the one that told me,” he said.
A few innings prior, Castellanos had made perhaps the best defensive play of the game, throwing out Matt Olson at home plate for an inning-ending double play in a 1-1 game.
It’s not the first time Castellanos has clashed with his manager over getting replaced on defense this season.
Castellanos was held out of the lineup in June after making an “inappropriate comment” to Thompson after getting taken out of a game against the Marlins.
“I understand the decision,” Castellanos said at the time. “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.”
Castellanos has consistently rated as one of the worst outfielders in the big leagues.
His minus-12 Outs Above Average (OAA) is the worst among all outfielders this season.
Over the past three seasons combined, Castellanos is tied with Jurickson Profar with a league-worst minus-25 OAA in the outfield.