Castellanos sets Precedent Early for Bounce-Back Season with Philadelphia Phillies
Nick Castellanos' debut season with the Philadelphia Phillies was underwhelming, to say the least. Coming off a season in which he posted a .306 batting average paired with 34 home runs, expectations were justifiably high in Philadelphia.
After a scorching hot start with the Phillies, Castellanos' level of play quickly declined. In his first 20 games with Philadelphia, he had a .319 BA, 23 hits, three home runs, 12 RBI, and 11 runs scored. However, in his last 20 games with the Phillies he had a .162 BA, notching just 12 hits, seven RBI, and nine runs scored.
With the let down in the postseason, opinions and narratives were almost all negative. That said, a spark early in MLB Spring Training has given a number of Phillies fans hope in his play for the upcoming season.
Getting back on track
Castellanos began his hot start last year in Clearwater, Fla. putting on a show during Spring Training. The excitement and anticipation for the regular season grew each time he stepped to the plate. Just two games into his Phillies career, Castellanos went yard for the first time in red and white. He took this success in stride to the first few weeks of the regular season.
He hit a home run for the first time very early in Spring Training again this year, providing fans with a wave of optimism. Not only was the ball hit well, the mechanics of his swing were sound. Castellanos is known for being a power hitter, leaving no questions about his ability to crush one out of the park. The primary issue encountered last season was chasing balls outside of the strike zone. There were long stretches in which it appeared he couldn't get his timing or positioning right, constantly leaving the plate emptyhanded.
Philadelphia Phillies TV color analyst, Ben Davis, delivered a great analysis of the hit.
Hopefully early success will get Castellanos back on track and ready for a bounce-back year. He has mentioned that he's ready to leave the 2022 MLB season in the past and look ahead to 2023.
New opportunities for success
If there's any year for a Phillie to have a bounce-back year, it's this year. The sky is the limit for the reigning National League champions as they have one of, if not the scariest lineup in the league. Castellanos is projected to bat in and around the six spot in the lineup behind a plethora of talent in the top of the order. Adding another elite hitter in shortstop Trea Turner takes pressure off the other players in the lineup.
The players in front of Castellanos are all more than capable of reaching base in one way or another, providing him with an opportunity to rack up RBI.
With Alec Bohm likely batting seventh in the order, Castellanos should settle for a single or a double rather than trying to go yard every at bat. Last season was a phenomenal year for Bohm as he displayed his ability to put the ball into play. If he has a player on base, he has a great chance of bringing them home. That's where Castellanos comes in. When he needs to, he can hustle, giving Bohm a viable threat to move forward.
Importance of Castellanos' contributions
Despite having a lineup with seven elite hitters, the Phillies have off days. This is a natural occurrence in baseball as level of play varies game by game. However, emerging with victories in these situations isn't impossible. Many times, all that's needed is a spark to either wake up the offense or give the defense some breathing room.
A big, power hitter like Castellanos should at least be a candidate for this role in each game. Unfortunately, it almost never felt like the team could rely on him in big-game moments. A season in which he hits over 25 HR and being a reliable threat every time he steps up to bat would be tremendous for the Phillies in the postseason.
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