Article Written by Michael Doctorovitz
Originally Published on July 6, 2023
With the Midsummer Classic fast approaching, Philadelphia Phillies fans can’t help but wonder how a team that won the pennant last year and are in a playoff spot currently this year only has one All-Star.
The Phillies’ 2023 All-Star representative is the most surprising and most unlikely. In 2022, Nick Castellanos had an abysmal season, to say the least. In 2023, he turned back into the player the Phillies thought they would be getting last season. In 136 games in 2022, Castellanos hit 13 home runs, drove in 62 RBIs and hit for an average of .263, with an OPS of .694.
In 83 games in 2023, Castellanos has already matched his home run total from 2022, matched his extra base hit total from 2022, has driven in 55 runs and is hitting for an average of .310 with an OPS of .866.
He is not the only All-Star worthy candidate though.
Since coming to Philadelphia in 2019, Bryce Harper has won a second MVP award, has carried the Phillies to a World Series berth and has been worth every penny of his 13 year, $330 million contract but he has not been named an All-Star once.
Although Harper’s power numbers are down from years prior, he still has All-Star worthy numbers. After returning quicker than anyone ever before from Tommy John surgery, Harper is hitting .300 with an OPS of .806 but only three home runs and 23 RBI. If he was able to play the field, Harper would most likely be an All-Star over Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and possibly over Juan Soto as well.
Bryson Stott is also having an All-Star caliber season, hitting .304 with seven home runs, 32 RBI and an OPS of .770. However, it would be hard to put him over Luis Arraez, who is hitting .384 with three home runs and 41 RBI, or Ozzie Albies, who is hitting .266 with 22 home runs and 63 RBI.
The Phillies are not worried about All-Stars though, they are worried about winning. Earlier this week, they officially found themselves in a playoff spot and if they continue to play they way they have, they will have another red October.
Michael Doctorovitz
Columnist,
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