Nicholas Alexander Castellanos Bio
Nicholas Alexander Castellanos is an American professional baseball right fielder and third baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on March 4, 1992, in South Florida, Castellanos was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the first round of the 2010 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut on September 1, 2013. Over his career, he has played for the Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and currently the Philadelphia Phillies, where he signed a five-year contract in 2022. A two-time All-Star, Castellanos has earned recognition for his hitting abilities, securing a Silver Slugger award in 2021 and leading the league in triples in 2017.
Early Life and Background
Castellanos was raised by his parents, Michelle and Jorge Castellanos, in South Florida. He is of Cuban descent through his father, while his mother’s family is based in Michigan. Castellanos played little league baseball in Davie, Florida. He attended the American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida, where he played for the school’s baseball team. American Heritage won the Florida state championship during his sophomore year. Castellanos later transferred to Archbishop McCarthy High School in Southwest Ranches, Florida, before his junior year. He was named Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Florida after finishing his senior season with a .542 batting average, 34 runs scored, 41 runs batted in, and 22 stolen bases, leading his team to the Class 4A state championship. In the 2009 Under Armour All-America Baseball Game, played at Wrigley Field, he scored three runs, had four doubles, and three RBIs, winning Most Valuable Player honors. Castellanos also played for the United States national baseball team for individuals 18 years of age and under in the 2009 Pan American Junior Championships, where he batted .356 with six doubles and nine RBIs, leading all players with 14 runs scored. He was named to the All-Tournament team and committed to attend the University of Miami on a baseball scholarship, intending to play college baseball for the Miami Hurricanes.
Path to Baseball
The Detroit Tigers selected Castellanos in the first round, with the 44th overall pick, in the 2010 Major League Baseball draft. He was rated by Baseball America as the third-best power-hitting prospect and fourteenth-best overall prospect prior to the draft. Castellanos signed with the Tigers, receiving a $3.45 million signing bonus, the highest bonus at that time ever given to a player taken after the first round. He began his professional career with the Gulf Coast Tigers of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. Before the 2011 season, Baseball America rated Castellanos as the 65th-best prospect in baseball. He played for the West Michigan Whitecaps of the Class-A Midwest League, batting .312 with seven home runs and 76 RBIs, leading the Midwest League with 158 hits and being named the Tigers’ minor league position player of the year. Castellanos continued to rise through the ranks, eventually making his MLB debut with the Tigers on September 1, 2013.
Nicholas Alexander Castellanos Career
Early Career (2013-2019)
Castellanos made his major league debut on September 1, 2013, playing left field for the Detroit Tigers. He recorded his first major league hit, an infield single, shortly after his debut. Castellanos became the starting third baseman for the Tigers in 2014, hitting his first MLB home run on April 9, 2014. He finished his rookie season with a .259 batting average, 11 home runs, 31 doubles, and 66 RBIs. Over the next few seasons, Castellanos continued to improve his performance, setting career highs in 2017 with a .272 batting average, 26 home runs, and 101 RBIs, while also leading the American League in triples.
Breakthrough (2019-2021)
In July 2019, Castellanos was traded to the Chicago Cubs, where he had a remarkable performance, hitting .348 with 11 home runs in August. He finished the 2019 season with a .289 batting average, 27 home runs, and an MLB-leading 58 doubles, earning him the nickname “Nicky Two Bags.” Castellanos signed a four-year, $64 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds in January 2020. He earned his first All-Star selection in 2021, posting career highs in batting average (.309) and home runs (34), while driving in 100 runs.
Notable Works and Milestones
Castellanos has been recognized as a two-time All-Star and won the Silver Slugger Award in 2021. He led the league in triples in 2017 and has consistently been a top performer in various hitting categories throughout his career.
Nicholas Alexander Castellanos Award Nominations
Nicholas Castellanos has received multiple nominations throughout his career, including two All-Star selections in 2021 and 2023, showcasing his talent and consistency as a player.
Nicholas Alexander Castellanos Awards Won
Castellanos has won several awards, including the Silver Slugger Award in 2021, recognizing his outstanding offensive performance during that season.
Nicholas Alexander Castellanos Family
Castellanos is married to Jessica Gomez, with whom he has two sons, born in 2022 and 2025. He also has an older son from a previous relationship, born in 2013.
Personal Life
Castellanos was previously married to Vanessa Hernandez, the mother of his first son, but they divorced in 2017. He has a younger brother, Ryan, who also played baseball and was drafted by the Tigers in 2015. Castellanos’ father was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2017, which has had a significant impact on his family life.