There’s little question that Nick Castellanos looks better to the eye test than he did throughout much of 2022. The Phillies right fielder carries a .288/.367/.400 batting line through 21 games in 2023. He looks more disciplined at the plate, as he’s cut his outside the zone swing percentage to 34.8% from 43.6% last season. His nine doubles are tied for the most in baseball. Castellanos has even directly contributed to at least two wins with his baserunning. His enormous leads off third base have distracted pitchers and even drawn a balk.
However, there are still some worrying signs that his “bounce back” may be a mirage.