Former Phillies Outfielder Admits to Bringing Beer into Dugout

Nick Castellanos opens up about the "Miami incident" that led to his release from the team.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Former Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos has admitted to bringing a beer into the dugout during a game against the Miami Marlins in June 2025, which led to his eventual release from the team. In a letter shared on social media, Castellanos addressed the "Miami incident" and expressed his appreciation for the Phillies fans despite the troubles near the end of his tenure with the team.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the strict rules and expectations surrounding player conduct in professional sports, even for veteran players. Castellanos' admission sheds light on the behind-the-scenes dynamics and tensions that can arise between players and team management, which can ultimately impact a player's career.

The details

In the letter, Castellanos admitted that after being removed from a close game against the Marlins in front of his friends and family, he brought a beer into the dugout. He said he then sat next to manager Rob Thomson and expressed that there was "too much slack in some areas and too tight of restrictions in others" that were not conducive to the team winning. Castellanos' teammates prevented him from taking a sip of the beer.

  • On June 16, 2025, the "Miami incident" occurred during a Phillies game against the Marlins.
  • The next day, on June 17, 2025, the Phillies announced that Castellanos was being benched for making an "inappropriate comment".
  • On February 12, 2026, Castellanos was released from the Phillies as the team began spring training.

The players

Nick Castellanos

A former outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies who was released from the team in February 2026 after admitting to bringing a beer into the dugout during a game against the Miami Marlins in June 2025.

Rob Thomson

The manager of the Philadelphia Phillies who removed Castellanos from the game against the Marlins in June 2025 and later announced that Castellanos was being benched for making an "inappropriate comment".

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What they’re saying

“As a veteran of the game of baseball, there are rules, and I broke one in Miami. After being taken out of a close ball game in front of my friends and family, I brought a Presidente (beer) into the dugout. I then sat right next to Rob and let him know that too much slack in some areas and too tight of restrictions in others are not conducive to us winning.”

— Nick Castellanos, Former Phillies Outfielder (Instagram)

“One of the many things about Nick that I love is that he's very emotional. He loves to play, and he loves to play every inning of every game. I just thought last night he made an inappropriate comment after he came out, and so today, he's not going to play. And I'm going to leave it at that.”

— Rob Thomson, Phillies Manager (usatoday.com)

What’s next

The Phillies have not indicated whether they will pursue any further disciplinary action against Castellanos following his release.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the delicate balance professional sports teams must strike between allowing players to express their passion for the game and maintaining strict conduct standards. Castellanos' admission highlights the challenges veteran players can face when navigating the rules and expectations of their sport.