Nick Castellanos Released by Phillies: ‘Miami Incident’ Revealed and a Legacy of Uncanny Timing
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies officially released outfielder Nick Castellanos on Thursday after failing to find a trade partner, effectively eating the $20 million remaining on his contract. The move brings a sudden end to one of the most enigmatic tenures in Philadelphia sports history, a four-year run defined by extreme highs, frustrating lows, and a bizarre knack for interrupting somber national news with home runs.
In a characteristic parting shot, Castellanos took to Instagram shortly after his release to address the “Miami Incident”—a mysterious benching in June 2025 that had fueled speculation for months.
The ‘Miami Incident’ Confirmed
For nearly a year, fans and media speculated about what led to Castellanos’ abrupt benching during a series against the Marlins. At the time, Manager Rob Thomson cited an “inappropriate comment.” On Thursday, Castellanos set the record straight in a handwritten letter posted to social media.
The 33-year-old revealed that after being removed from a close game for a defensive replacement, he brought a designated beer—specifically a Presidente—into the dugout. Frustrated by the substitution, he sat next to Thomson and criticized the manager’s enforcement of team discipline, telling him that “too much slack in some areas and too tight of restrictions in others are not conducive to us winning.”
Castellanos credited his teammates and special assistant Howie Kendrick for intervening and taking the beer from his hands before he could take a sip. While he apologized to Thomson and President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski in a closed-door meeting immediately after the game, the organization instructed him to keep the details private. The “inappropriate comment” label remained the official narrative until his release liberated him to speak.
A Legacy of “Impeccable” Timing
While the Miami revelation provides closure on his friction with management, Castellanos’ legacy in Philadelphia will be inextricably warnings to the “Castellanos Curse”—an internet phenomenon born from his tendency to hit home runs during solemn broadcasts.
The trend began in Cincinnati in 2020 during announcer Thom Brennaman’s on-air apology, but it accelerated during his time in red pinstripes.
Memorial Day 2022: Castellanos homered while the broadcast paid tribute to fallen service members.
June 2023: He hit a home run on the same day a portion of I-95 collapsed in Northeast Philadelphia.
October 2023: In the NLDS, he homered just as the TBS broadcast was sending well-wishes to former manager Charlie Manuel, who was recovering from a stroke.
The Summer of 2024: Castellanos hit a walk-off double minutes after the announcement of Willie Mays’ death; he later homered hours before the assassination attempt on Donald Trump and again on the day President Joe Biden withdrew from the 2024 election.
Performance Struggles and Defensive Liabilities
Despite the viral moments and his historic performance in the 2023 NLDS—where he became the first player in MLB history to hit two home runs in back-to-back postseason games—the decision to release Castellanos was rooted in declining production.
Critics have long pointed to the “feast or famine” nature of his $100 million contract. His defensive metrics were consistently among the worst in the league, often forcing the Phillies to utilize defensive replacements late in games—the very strategy that sparked the Miami Incident. His 2025 season saw him relegated to a platoon role, posting a career-worst -0.6 fWAR.
By releasing him now, the Phillies acknowledge that his roster spot had become more valuable than his potential output. While his son, Liam, became a beloved fixture at Citizens Bank Park and a symbol of the team’s family atmosphere, the front office ultimately decided that the vibes could no longer mask the on-field regression.
Castellanos leaves Philadelphia as a free agent, leaving behind a complicated legacy: a clubhouse leader who broke rules, a defensive liability who carried the offense for weeks at a time, and the only player in baseball history whose swing seemed synced with the breaking news ticker.
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