Don Mattingly achieved a batting title and an MVP award during his time with the Yankees. He is recognized as a six-time All-Star, a nine-time Gold Glover, and even received the NL Manager of the Year accolade while managing in Miami.
Instead of revisiting his past issues with former Phillies manager Rob Thomson, Nick Castellanos highlighted the accomplishments of Mattingly, his successor. The Phillies entered Petco Park with a 17-8 record following the dismissal of Thomson by baseball operations chief David Dombrowski after a challenging 9-19 start, appointing Mattingly, the team’s bench coach, as the interim manager under general manager Preston Mattingly.
The younger Mattingly began his front office career with the Padres before becoming the farm director for the Phillies in September 2021.
“The decision isn’t up to me, but when they appointed Don as the manager, my immediate thought was, ‘right man, right spot,’” Castellanos remarked. “It’s a beautiful thing that a father gets to work under his son. Baseball is such a personal, family-oriented, and authentic game. Honestly, what could be more genuine than a relationship like that between a father like Don Mattingly and a son like Preston, with whom I’ve built a rapport over the years and observed how he goes about his work?”
“I think it’s a beautiful thing.”
The 34-year-old Castellanos discussed extensively about his exit from the Phillies, who are covering $19.22 million of his $20 million salary after releasing him during spring training. However, those discussions hadn’t taken place with the media closely following the Phillies, leading to Castellanos anticipating questions at his locker on Monday morning.
The conversation shifted from Castellanos expressing eagerness to reunite with his former Phillies teammates, to reflecting on the team’s success while ultimately falling short of a World Series title, and the abrupt conclusion of his time with the team when he was informed not to report to Clearwater, Fla., for the beginning of spring training.
“Yeah, I told them, ‘Hey, I’m coming,’ and then they asked me not to go,” Castellanos explained. “Well, I’m an employee, so if I’m employed, I’m coming. If you don’t want me to come, then release me. That’s how it ended.”
The tension between Castellanos and Thomson arose from reduced playing time and Castellanos’ feelings about their communication last summer, particularly when Castellanos brought a beer into the dugout after being replaced late in a game in June. He also questioned the credibility of Thomson and other coaches who had not played in the majors, including Don Mattingly.
On Monday, Castellanos refrained from explicitly discussing his issues with Thomson, instead focusing on why his role in San Diego is more fulfilling.
Entering Monday, Castellanos was hitting .190/.225/.352 with four home runs and 19 RBIs, while rotating between first base, designated hitter, and both corner outfield spots. On Monday, he played right field for the sixth time in seven days as the Padres adapted by using Fernando Tatis Jr. at second base since Jake Cronenworth’s concussion. Often, Tatis would shift to right field late in games to replace Castellanos in defensive situations when protecting a lead.
“They managed it in their way, and it put me in a difficult situation at the end, not fully understanding what was happening,” Castellanos remarked. “But ultimately, I’m here in San Diego, in this clubhouse. The staff has been wonderful; they’ve really welcomed me. I feel the players have embraced me, and the front office consistently asks for my input on things. When they respond, it’s straightforward.
“Which is fantastic, because I know exactly what’s going on. I don’t have to wonder or speculate or think, ‘What did they truly mean by that?’”
Hurdles to Clear Still
Luis Campusano donned the catcher’s gear on Monday afternoon to catch Walker Buehler’s bullpen session, showcasing the progress he has made since being placed on the injured list on May 7 due to a fractured left big toe.
Campusano is also back to hitting, but the Padres are monitoring his progress closely in catching gear as they assess his readiness for a minor league rehab assignment.
“He needs to reach a point where he can get in and out of his catching squat without pain,” Padres manager Craig Stammen noted. “Thus far, he’s been able to hit pain-free and throw, but we know that catching is physically demanding. A few wrong foul balls or pitches can be tough, and you need to be agile, making it challenging if your toe is still injured.”
Prior to his injury, Campusano had not recorded a hit in three games but leads the catching unit significantly at the plate with three home runs, 10 RBIs, and a .288/.362/.596 batting line.
Notable
- RHP Germán Márquez (forearm nerve) has been throwing bullpens and is set to progress to live batting practice this week. A minor league rehab assignment could be forthcoming. “His arm feels good,” Stammen said. “No pain at all, so he’s on his way back.”
- RHP Matt Waldron (brachialis) started a throwing program over the weekend.
