Nick Castellanos is starting in right field for the Phillies in Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Washington Nationals. It’s the 162nd time in 162 games that Castellanos has been in manager Rob Thomson’s starting lineup.
Castellanos is the first Phillie to play in all 162 games since Freddy Galvis in 2017. However, Galvis didn’t start all 162 games, as Castellanos has. You have to go back another decade to find the last Phillie to start all 162 games, as Jimmy Rollins did it in his NL MVP season of 2007.
Not only has Castellanos started all 162 games for the Phillies this season, but he’s done so while playing almost exclusively in the outfield. Only four of Castellanos’ 162 starts came at DH. He’s logged more than 1,350 innings in right field in 2024.
The third season of a five-year/$100 million deal for Castellanos had some trials and tribulations, as he got off to an ice-cold start, posting just a .680 OPS prior to the All-Star Break. However, since the Midsummer Classic, Castellanos has an .836 OPS.
Regardless of production, playing all 162 games is a remarkable accomplishment. There’s a ton that goes into managing your body pre and postgame to make sure you are available, and it also takes some luck, particularly considering Castellanos is 32. For Castellanos to do this — especially knowing a playoff run is looming — is no small feat.