Phillies news and rumors 6/14: Nick Castellanos playing his way into All-Star consideration

Nick Castellanos went 2-for-6 with three RBIs in a blowout win Tuesday night, as the Philadelphia Phillies right fielder continued a monster month of June that may propel him to an All-Star Game appearance.

Even before All-Stars are determined, Castellanos could end up with some hardware for his performance in June. For all the talk about Kyle Schwarber’s resurgence in the month of June, it’s been Castellanos who has slashed .429/.463/.714 with three home runs, 13 RBIs and a 1.177 OPS.

According to FanGraphs, the 0.8 WAR Castellanos has been worth in June is tied for seventh among all qualified position players. Mind you, he posted a -0.8 WAR in his first season with the Phillies, which was tied for the second-worst mark among position players.

While Castellanos will have to compete with the likes of Corbin Carroll and Fernando Tatis Jr. for National League player of the month, a scalding-hot month of June should help him as he tries to reach the All-Star Game for the second time in three years. In the first update on fan voting, Castellanos was ninth among NL outfielders:

Ronald Acuña Jr. of the @Braves & Shohei Ohtani of the @Angels are leading their respective leagues in the first balloting update for the 2023 ASG. The Scotts MLB All-Star Ballot is available now at https://t.co/QeTzbefggW, all 30 Club sites, the MLB App and the MLB Ballpark App. pic.twitter.com/DJFvIN5qGw

— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) June 12, 2023

The Phillies, though, will need at least one All-Star and as the defending NL Champions, Rob Thomson will be leading the senior circuit squad. And following a disappointing first season of a five-year/$100 million deal, it would be quite the story if Castellanos ends up representing the Phillies at the midsummer classic in 2023.

Must Read (Or Watch) Phillies Content

• The Phillies and Upper Deck Golf are teaming up to allow a select group of fans to play gold at Citizens Bank Park, as Kyle Pagan of Crossing Broad noted.
• Castellanos revealed Tuesday on 97.5 The Fanatic that the Phillies have unretired their 2022 playoff anthem “Dancing on My Own”:

Nick Castellanos just told us on @975Middays that they brought back playing Dancing On My Own in the locker room after wins. Said they started playing it again during the Nationals series
pic.twitter.com/65BqXFA4DA

— Andrew Salciunas (@asalciunas975) June 13, 2023

• The Phillies signed RHP Jake Thompson to a minor-league deal, but it’s a different righty named Jake Thompson than the one acquired from the Texas Rangers in the Cole Hamels trade in July of 2015:

Well, it turns out the Phillies signed a different Jake Thompson who is also a right-handed pitcher. Sorry to both Jakes: https://t.co/tpADou7nYM

— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) June 13, 2023

Former Phillies Nation

• The Diamondbacks released utilityman Yairo Muñoz Tuesday. In 29 games for the Phillies in 2022, Muñoz homered three times and posted a .654 OPS.
• Former Phillies reliever Tommy Hunter was released by the New York Mets Tuesday.

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