The Philadelphia Phillies are trying to claim the top seed in the National League and make a deep run in October. Nick Castellanos’ role has been much different this year as the team tries to reach the World Series.

Castellanos is no longer an everyday player for the Phillies. He has spent more time on the bench due to a decline offensively this season. On Friday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks, he came into the game in the sixth inning as a pinch hitter and ended up going 2-for-3 with three RBI and a home run.

Despite his stellar performance and hitting his 250th career home run, Castellanos still pointed out a gripe he has with manager Rob Thomson.

“I don’t really talk to Rob all that often. I play whenever he tells me to play and I sit whenever he tells me to sit,” Castellanos said when asked if he knows why he is not playing as much, as seen in a video posted to X by On Pattison. “Communication over the years has been questionable, at least in my experience.”

A reporter noted that other players in the past have noted communication as a strong part of Thomson’s management style. Clearly, Castellanos feels differently.

“There’s just been times where things have been said, and then over the course of years, I’ll have expectations, because I’ll latch on to what is being said, and actions would be different,” Castellanos continued in the video. “It is what it is. I do what I can. At the end of the day, we’re here to win the World Series.”

Castellanos has been very blunt with the media this season and throughout his career. He is clearly a player who wants to start every day, but his numbers this season have left Thomson with no choice but to keep him on the bench. He will need to adjust to his role as a pinch hitter for the final stretch, and Friday was a good sign.

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