Phillies Release Nick Castellanos, Teammates Respond Calmly

Kyle Schwarber and Rob Thomson reflect on Castellanos' departure and the team's focus on moving forward

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The Philadelphia Phillies have announced the release of outfielder Nick Castellanos, a significant move for the team. Teammates Kyle Schwarber and manager Rob Thomson shared a calm, reflective response, emphasizing the team's unity and desire to move forward despite the off-field friction that led to Castellanos' departure.

Why it matters

Castellanos' release marks a pivotal moment for the Phillies as they navigate roster composition and clubhouse chemistry following a disappointing playoff exit last season. The team's adjustments, both on and off the field, will be closely watched as they strive to reclaim competitiveness and make another playoff push.

The details

Castellanos publicly addressed his release in a letter, revealing tension during a June game in Miami when he brought a beer into the dugout after being pulled from a close game and confronted manager Rob Thomson about what he saw as inconsistent team restrictions. Thomson acknowledged Castellanos' honesty about the incident and responded with a mix of understanding and humor.

  • The Phillies announced Castellanos' release on Thursday, February 13, 2026.
  • In June 2025, the incident between Castellanos and Thomson occurred during a game in Miami.

The players

Nick Castellanos

A former outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies who was recently released by the team.

Kyle Schwarber

An outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies who shared a calm, reflective response to Castellanos' departure.

Rob Thomson

The manager of the Philadelphia Phillies who acknowledged the incident with Castellanos and emphasized the team's focus on moving forward.

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What they’re saying

“After being taken out of a close ball game in front of my friends and family I brought a Presidente 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 (Social media)

“Hey, we all make mistakes. Mine are well documented. But, you know, Nick helped us out in a lot of ways here. He had some big hits and big plays and helped us win a lot of ballgames. I wish him all the best.”

— Rob Thomson, Manager

“I mean, it's (neither) here nor there. I mean, we did what we did, right? I felt like, in the (NLDS), we played good games, right? There were just things that we didn't execute. We didn't walk away with wins at the end of the day. It's hard to say here nor there. We put ourselves in the position where we wanted to be. We just got knocked out. Can't really say.”

— Kyle Schwarber, Outfielder

“I think the biggest thing is that we all wish him the best, right? We've had a lot of really good memories here over the last four years. He's had some really big moments with us and we wish him the best moving forward. It is what it is, but hopefully wherever he goes next, he's able to keep going out there, keep doing his thing and keep having those big moments.”

— Kyle Schwarber, Outfielder

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.