Nick Castellanos talks Miami incident with beer after Phillies release

Feb. 12, 2026, 3:07 p.m. ET

Nick Castellanos is a Philadelphia Phillie no more. The outfielder who became a fan favorite and then fell out of favor was released on Thursday after four seasons with the team.

He handwrote a four-page letter that he posted on Instagram, including a page-and-a-half on something he called the “Miami Incident.” That was something that happened in Miami last summer that led to Castellanos being benched after an “inappropriate” comment he made.

What was it? He was taken out of a “a close ball game in front of my friends and family.” He then brought a beer into the dugout (he didn’t take a sip of it) and apparently had this to say to manager Rob Thomson: “[I] let him know that too much slack in some areas and to [sic] tight of restrictions in others are not conducive to us winning.”

Wow. We’ll see if more comes out about this or if everyone moves on as Castellanos presumably finds another home.

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