Nick Castellanos, a $100 million star for the Phillies, has unexpectedly become part of one of baseball’s strangest ongoing coincidences. On Easter morning, the world received news of Pope Francis’ passing. While the world mourned, an unexpected figure emerged in online conversations and betting platforms—Nick Castellanos. And for reasons that are oddly comical and eerie, he once again found himself tied to a moment of tragedy.
This strange connection between Castellanos and moments of global or national tragedy has turned into a long-running meme. The pattern is simple yet bizarre: whenever something tragic is announced, Castellanos hits a home run. And this latest instance has only reinforced the strange tradition. On the day of the Pope’s reported death, Castellanos was one of the most wagered-on players to hit a home run, with odds at +630, which soon dropped to +560, signaling a surge in confidence.
The meme that has taken hold of the baseball community jokes that “whenever tragedy hits, Castellanos hits harder.” The timing has become so uncanny that fans and bettors now associate significant, somber news with a potential home run from him.
The origins of this peculiar reputation trace back to 2020 during a Phillies vs. Royals game. A broadcaster was making a public on-air apology for using a homophobic slur. Mid-apology, Castellanos hit a home run, creating a painfully awkward interruption. The incident blew up online and became the first moment in what would become a string of strangely timed hits.
In 2021, a Royals broadcaster was delivering a heartfelt eulogy for a 97-year-old World War II veteran when Castellanos struck again, hitting a home run that interrupted the somber broadcast.
The pattern continued in 2022. During spring training, as a broadcaster addressed a DUI arrest involving coach Pete Walker, Castellanos hit a single. Later that year, on Memorial Day, while Tom McCarthy was paying tribute to fallen soldiers, Castellanos sent a ball flying into the stands. The broadcaster had to pause and say, “Castellanos rips one to deep left field. It is gone!”
In 2023, yet another example occurred as well-wishes were being sent to Phillies manager Charlie Manuel following a stroke. As expected, Castellanos hit another home run.
The strange trend didn’t stop there. In 2024, shortly after the death of baseball legend Willie Mays, Castellanos hit another home run. Then, during a shocking moment when Donald Trump was shot in the ear, he homered again. The coincidence is so absurd it’s hard to ignore.
Interestingly, this trend may have started even earlier than people realize. Castellanos hit his first Minor League home run on the same day Osama Bin Laden was declared dead. These moments have fans and followers wondering if this is merely a freak coincidence or something more unsettling.
Whether you see it as a curse, an eerie statistical oddity, or just a weirdly amusing coincidence, one thing’s for sure—Nick Castellanos has become an accidental symbol of tragic timing in baseball.