The Philadelphia Phillies are on a streak of postseason success like no other. Ready to take another trip to the World Series, the club is making October history with unprecedented stats. While the NLCS match-up against the Arizona Diamondbacks could be better, bright spots in the form of players are shining through. And to think, if it wasn’t for Bryce Harper, the City of Brotherly Love would look a lot different today.

Harper has changed the course of Philly’s playoffs in the last two years, with 2022 being the first year since 2011 that the club made it to the postseason. But 2023 has seen an explosion of talent in a player who struggled when he first came to the city. Nick Castellanos, a home run-hitting sensation in October this year, had one of his worst MLB years in 2022. But if it wasn’t for his old Team USA teammate, the slugger may never have become a Philly favorite.

Bryce Harper Snatched Away Nick Castellanos From Miami to Philadelphia

After the disaster that was 2022, no one expected Castellanos to come to October with one electrifying performance after another. Originally planning to go to his home team, the Miami Marlins, the slugger’s free agency was supposed to look different. He may never have become the first MLB player to hit multiple home runs in back-to-back playoff games. Philly is the lucky city witnessing history thanks to Bryce Harper.

The slugger’s exploits in Philly are well known but one of his greatest accomplishments was swaying Castellanos to come play with him. “Bryce reached out to me and said, ‘What do you think? I want this, I want you to be here,’” Castellanos told The Philadelphia Inquirer on Monday, before Game 6 of the NLCS against the Diamondbacks. “All the sudden it’s midnight, I’m like ‘Alright, take the deal — Philadelphia.'”

Would he have joined the Phillies if not for Harper’s request? In Castellanos’ own words, “I think if it wasn’t for him, and like saying, ‘Hey, I want you over here, let’s make this happen,’ Who knows?”

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Fans can likely enjoy watching the two players for at least four more years. While Harper’s contract is set to last until 2031, Castellanos’ runs through 2026. As one win holds the Phillies away from another trip to the World Series, the duo’s potential will be worth looking forward to. But can the club make it past the D-Backs safely?

Philadelphia Phillies Bats Cool Before Crucial Match-Up

After a baserunning error in Game 2 of the NLDS, Bryce Harper was ferocious at the plate against the Braves. But the underdogs from Arizona have crept up surprisingly and may take away the NLCS crown. Game 6 saw Harper make a catching error, almost as if the ball went right through his glove. Nick Castellanos went 0 for 4, the player who hit moonshot after moonshot just a few days ago nowhere to be seen.

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The finale will be historic in Philadelphia, the first Game 7 in 141 years of Phillies baseball. Will the current team honor the occasion by winning? Or will they let history fizzle out, letting the moment pass by in a loss? Only Tuesday’s game will tell.