VIDEO: Cubs' Nicholas Castellanos Continues Torrid Pace and Crushes 2-Run Blast in 1st Inning
By Michael Luciano
It's amazing what leaving the spacious outfield of Comerica Park can do for your power numbers. Former Detroit Tigers outfielder Nick Castellanos looks like a totally different player after the Chicago Cubs nabbed him at the trade deadline. Castellanos destroyed his eighth home run in 19 games as a Cub when he took San Francisco Giants righty Dereck Rodriguez deep. That blast evened the score up at 2-2 in the first inning.
Nicholas Castellanos homered.
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 22, 2019
Rinse.
Repeat. pic.twitter.com/mIteAuO0Vy
Castellanos, who was only hitting .273 with 11 home runs in 100 games as a Tiger, is now hitting .373 with 8 home runs and 11 RBI as a Cub. Castellanos figured to add some extra pop off the bench, but few could have imagine he would acclimate himself to National League pitching this easily.
Highest OPS in Cubs history:
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) August 21, 2019
1. Nick Castellanos: 1.179
2. Rogers Hornsby: 1.039
3. Hack Wilson: 1.002
*whispers*
minimum 75 plate appearances
The Cubs will have to out-slug opponents in the postseason to win consistently, and Castellanos has given them yet another shiny new toy to aid them in that pursuit.