Opening Day for the Phillies is now just one day away (assuming the weather cooperates), and spring training 2024 is officially underway as the team returns from Florida to face the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on Thursday afternoon. As we count down the minutes and seconds until Zack Wheeler’s first pitch, we’ll take a short look at a few Phillies news articles that can’t be missed.
Throughout the offseason and into spring training, the Phillies worked hard to stockpile pitching depth in the upper minor league system. This pattern continued on Saturday, when the organization completed a modest deal with the Tampa Bay Rays to acquire right-handed pitcher Zac Houston for cash. According to a social media post by Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, Houston was dealt to the Phillies to give the long-time minor league reliever “a better chance to pitch at the Triple-A” level this season.
Houston is not a promising location. The Detroit Tigers selected the 29-year-old in the 11th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft. After seven minor league seasons divided between the Tigers and New York Yankees minor league systems, Houston has yet to get beyond Triple-A and make his major league debut. Houston will most likely head to Lehigh Valley to serve as a depth bullpen arm for the Phillies this season.
Craig Kimbrel completely crushes the Phillies in their first encounter since the NLCS.
As previously stated, the Phillies will get the opportunity to face off against former closer and current NLCS scapegoat Craig Kimbrel this season, but not at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies will play the Baltimore Orioles on the road at Camden Yards in 2024, the only scheduled series between the two teams. Phillies supporters who wanted to give Kimbrel an unwanted visit to Philadelphia will have to wait, or at least travel to Baltimore.
However, spring training does not count, and in a surprising appearance against his former club on March 20, Kimbrel struck out the side in one inning of bullpen work, outperforming Phillies batters. The most surprising aspect of Kimbrel’s one-inning performance was that he struck out former colleague Bryson Stott. Kimbrel delivered a wicked changeup ahead of Stott in the count, fooling him totally.
The use of a changeup is completely new to Kimbrel’s pitch arsenal, and Stott had a puzzled expression on his face after the at-bat that read, “Dude, why didn’t you throw that pitch last October when we needed you?”
Kimbrel went 1-0 with eight strikeouts, a 7.50 ERA, and two home runs in six spring training appearances for the Orioles. He’s yours now, Orioles fans. Let the ninth inning adventures begin.
Nick Castellanos reveals details about his humorous acting profession.
Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos is the latest Philadelphia athlete to appear in a commercial, sharing the spotlight with San Diego Padres star Fernado Tatis, Jr. in a humorous spoof for Corona beer. In the skit, Castellanos and Tatis Jr. explain to bosses why their employees should be excused for calling in sick to attend Opening Day this season.
Todd Zolecki of MLB.com recently interviewed Castellanos about how his recent acting role came about and what he thought of his performance.
“I just had a feeling it was going to be OK,” Castellanos told Zolecki. “Some aspects felt natural; others did not. Acting lines, I had to get to the point where I felt like it was me rather than an actress.”
Castellanos, who is always refreshingly honest about any topic, has some serious comments about what it takes to be a commercial actor.
“My rookie year, I did a commercial for an automotive company in Detroit,” Castellanos explained.” It might be fun, but it can also be sticky in situations where media production is a reality. An actor can go in expecting it to be one way, but through editing, they can make it appear completely different. Right? As a result, the public gains control over the editing process. That is a bad way to leave perception. This leads to a very dishonest society. “Acting is a unique business.”
Perhaps Castellanos has got the acting bug and will take his talents to Hollywood after his playing career is finished. If Scooby-Doo returns to the big screen, perhaps Nick will appear in a reboot. Stay tuned.
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