Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos was pulled from Tuesday's starting lineup after making an "inappropriate comment" on Monday, manager Rob Thompson told reporters.
Castellanos, who had started in 236 consecutive games, has been one of Philadelphia's most reliable players since signing there in free agency, but Thompson opted to punish the outfielder for comments he made after being removed from Monday's game against the Marlins, which the Phillies won 5-2.
Here's what to know about Castellanos being benched for Tuesday's Phillies vs. Marlins matchup after making an "inappropriate comment."
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What did Nick Castellanos say?
Neither Castellanos nor Thompson have shared details on what exactly the outfielder said to be punished for Tuesday's game. However, the Phillies manager did speak about his decision prior to the matchup against the Marlins.
In Monday's game, Castellanos was replaced with Johan Rojas for defensive purposes in the bottom of the eighth inning. That's when he made an "inappropriate comment," per Lochlan March.
Castellanos has always been known for his bat over his glove, while the opposite can be said of Rojas. But after being subbed out, he was punished for a comment he made in frustration, with Max Kepler getting the start in right field for Philadelphia on Tuesday.
Castellanos said that he "wasn't happy" about being taken out of Monday's game and he "spoke [his] mind."
"[Thompson] said that I crossed a line," Castellanos said, per March. "So my punishment is I'm not playing.”
He also said that it's Thompson's decision to bench him because "he's the manager," per Charlotte Varnes. It's set to be Castellanos' first game not starting all season. His 391 games played from 2023-25 are third-most in MLB, trailing only Matt Olson and Marcus Semien.
Philadelphia, which sits second in the NL East at 43-29, is set to be without the outfielder for a game, who has posted a .278 batting average with seven home runs and 36 RBIs so far this season.