MLB world reacts to Nick Castellano’s viral hit

The lesson is, as always, if Nick Castellanos is batting, do not discuss anything somber or make any kind of apology on-air because he is going to ruin it. Or maybe he’s going to make it amazing. It’s hard to tell at this point.

Sunday, Castellanos was batting for his new team, the Philadelphia Phillies, in a spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays. While he was taking pitches, Blue Jays play-by-play announcer Buck Martinez was discussing pitching coach Pete Walker, who had been arrested on Friday for driving under the influence. He was released on bond the same day and was seen in the dugout this weekend.

Martinez ran down the statements from the Blue Jays organization, including Walker’s apology, when Castellanos did what he does best during moments like this. He smacked a hit.

Castellanos has, of course, become legendary for these moments. It all began with his epic home run during Thom Brennaman’s apology for saying a homophobic slur on a hot mic. That surreal moment became an iconic internet meme.

He truly cemented his legend when he hit a home run during Bally Sports Kansas City broadcaster Ryan Lefebvre’s eulogy of George A. Gorman, the father of longtime Royals equipment manager Pat Gorman, who had passed away.

In fact, the notion of getting Nick Castellanos’d has become its own thing. And today, it finally circled back to the guy who started it.

It’s a truly mesmerizing thing that Nick has now done this three times. It almost seems to defy logic. And yet, it’s the kind of magic that enthralls MLB fans when it happens. Just look at the reactions on social media to see.

We don’t know how this ends, what it means, or whether or not announcers have learned to never discuss a serious topic during one of Nick’s at-bats. We just know that it means SOMETHING.

[AA]