The Philadelphia Phillies have managed to stay relatively healthy during a season that has seen many other teams plagued by injuries. With their star players missing only brief stretches, this consistency has been crucial in helping the team secure a playoff spot for the third consecutive year.
One standout example of durability for the Phillies has been right fielder Nick Castellanos. During Sunday’s game against the Washington Nationals, Castellanos achieved the remarkable feat of playing in all 162 games of the 2024 season. This marks the first time a Phillies player has done so since Jimmy Rollins in 2007.
Castellanos’ ironman streak has been a major storyline throughout the final month of the season. With the Atlanta Braves potentially finishing with only 160 games, Castellanos could be the sole player in MLB this year to reach the 162-game mark, as Braves first baseman Matt Olson is the only other player to have played in every game this season.
Castellanos started the year in a rough patch, hitting just .193/.258/.263 over his first 31 games. However, Manager Rob Thomson continued to trust him in the lineup, and Castellanos rebounded to post a much-improved .268/.322/.470 slash line heading into Sunday.
Although this is the first time Castellanos has played all 162 games in a season, it marks the sixth time in his 12-year MLB career that he has surpassed 150 games. He also played in all 60 games during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
With the Phillies locked into the postseason, Castellanos is set to play many more games before his impressive 2024 campaign comes to a close.