I Love This Guy: Nick Castellanos is Very Happy to Be On the Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are undoubtedly very happy to have Nick Castellanos on the team. I sure am.
The 27-year-old outfielder, acquired at the Trade Deadline, has posted a whopping .348/.392/.710 slash line (178 wRC+) through 74 PAs with his new team. By WAR, he’s been worth as much with the Cubs already (0.8) as he was in 100 games with the Tigers.
And, since the Cubs are in a pennant race, that “value” is all the more … well, valuable. A reality Castellanos, himself, seems to recognize. Today, while doing an event with 670 The Score, Castellanos likened the trade to being underwater, desperate for breath, and then finally getting to the surface to breathe:
Castellanos on playing for teams with no direction:
“It’s sucks when your passion becomes an occupation.”
Says coming to the #Cubs was like the moment when you break the surface of the water after being under, struggling to breathe. pic.twitter.com/E2wUQCbhLS
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) August 20, 2019
Nicholas Castellanos on what it meant to be traded to the @Cubs. Love this guy’s passion for baseball, you can feel it in his voice and demeanor. #EverybodyIn pic.twitter.com/4ics9XVXiT
— Michael Bolling (@mikealexbolling) August 20, 2019
And of his new manager, when he heard Joe Maddon’s praise for him as a player and a person, Castellanos was momentarily overcome with emotion (in the best, most relatable, most human way):
Nick Castellanos is incredibly emotional after hearing what @CubsJoeMadd had to say about him as a person and a baseball player.
Castellanos, while crying: “This is why I don’t have a radio show, man, damn.” pic.twitter.com/2die4ahlWZ
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) August 20, 2019
Nicholas Castellanos gets emotional after hearing high praise from his manager @CubsJoeMadd about his impact on this @Cubs team. #EverybodyIn pic.twitter.com/V1BxQ4nrRa
— Stadium (@Stadium) August 20, 2019
Remember, this is a guy who has been through a lot of growth personally, on and off the field, and it’s not hard to see that he’s the KIND of player you would just want around. When you consider the entire package – the projected future performance, the great fit at Wrigley Field, and the different type of life experience/baseball attitude? I don’t think it’s at all crazy, in this specific situation, to start considering extension talks. Maybe I’ve gone meatball and irrational, but I just like this guy. Feels right for this team.
Bonus? He’s been with the Cubs only a short while and he already gets that the Pirates are a-holes:
Castellanos on having to shake the @Pirates’ hands after the Williamsport game:
“I got two fastballs up and in. I didn’t want to shake anyone’s hand.” pic.twitter.com/BvvRwnJ0tK
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) August 20, 2019
