Of all the days Nick Castellanos has hit a home run, Sunday seemed like just the right day for him.
Castellanos hit an unquestionable home run in the top of the ninth inning against the Pirates to extend the Phillies’ lead to 6-0 just hours after President Joe Biden announced he would withdraw from the presidential race and not seek re-election, continuing a strange tradition of outfielders hitting home runs at odd times, often on the same day as a historic event or a notable moment in the broadcast booth.
The ninth-inning homer traveled 409 feet and exited at 104.3 mph, leading the Phillies to a thumping 6-0 victory over the Pirates and ending Pittsburgh’s series winning streak.
The Phillies outfielder hit a two-run homer on July 13, just hours before former President Donald Trump was nearly assassinated during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
A few weeks earlier, on the same night the sports world mourned the death of baseball legend Willie Mays, Castellanos hit the game-winning home run.
One of the most famous moments came in 2020, when Castellanos hit a home run while anchor Thom Brennaman was apologizing after being caught on a hot mic using homophobic slang.
He hit a double in the fourth inning. AP
Midway through his apology, Castellanos unleashed a “hard drive to the left,” and the phrase has become part of pop culture lexicon.
In another bizarre development, Brennaman told The Athletic on Sunday that he will be returning to the airwaves as part of The CW’s college football coverage.
“I can’t express to you how grateful I am that they took a gamble,” Brennaman told the outlet. “They don’t have to do this.”
His first game for the network will be on Aug. 31, when Oregon State plays Idaho State.
