Cincinnati Reds: Nick Castellanos’ report card for the 2020 season

Nick Castellanos will be back with the Reds in 2021, but how did the 2020 season go for the right-handed slugger?

One of the Cincinnati Reds biggest offseason questions has been answered with the power-hitting outfielder, Nick Castellanos deciding to remain with the team next season. Castellanos is going to be an important part of the Reds core moving forward into next year. However, as good as he looked at times last season, his overall grade may be lower than some expect.

Signing Castellanos last winter was not shocking, but did make the baseball world aware that the Reds were trying to be a contender. Castellanos signed a four-year/$64M contract last offseason with Cincinnati. Given the current market, it wasn’t surprising that the right-handed slugger remained with the team.

Of his 49 base hits in a pandemic-shortened 60-game season, 27 went for extra-bases, something the Reds were desperate for. Castellanos had 14 homers and looked to be like an early-season MVP candidate. He had a presence about him at the plate that if contact was made, the ball was going to be crushed, and it usually was.

However, Castellanos’ final slash line of .225/.298/.486 was not what he was brought to Cincinnati to do. Castellanos improved his plate discipline as the season went on but oftentimes was seen swinging at everything, even if the ball was thrown in the other batters box.

Castellanos’ errors in the outfield proved costly at times but his work ethic showed true determination to not make the same mistake twice. Castellanos would stay after games to shag fly balls with the coaching staff and there was a real noticeable improvement in his defense as the season went on.

Nick Castellanos will be going into his age-29 season having proved a lot and still with a lot to prove. His power is elite, his competitiveness is obvious, but if 2020 taught us anything it is that Castellanos falls somewhere between a core franchise player and fringe All-Star.

Castellanos played in every game, seemed to always have an extra-base hit tucked away somewhere, and his effort and desire to improve is something that cannot be taught. Hopefully, that will rub off on the younger players..