Will Nick Castellanos hit another home run after Pope Francis’ death? A complete timeline on player’s badly timed home runs after 2020

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Following the passing of Pope Francis, baseball fans are humorously anticipating another timely home run from Philadelphia Phillies’ Nick Castellanos, known for his history of hitting homers during significant or sensitive moments. From interrupting apologies and eulogies to tributes and well-wishes, Castellanos’s knack for awkward timing has become a running joke. Will the trend continue with the recent global news?

Fans speculate another home run from Nick Castellanos after news of Pope Francis’s death takes over the world
Nick Castellanos complete timeline of poorly timed home runs from 2020 till now
Castellanos hit his first home run on the day Osama Bin Laden was declared dead

The morning of April 21, 2025, brought with it grave news for the world: the Pope is dead. Pope Francis departed the world, and while people are grieving the loss, baseball fans are betting all over social media. What are they betting on? Well, baseball fans are speculating about another home run from Philadelphia Phillies’ right fielder, Nick Castellanos, who is apparently the king of hitting homers during bad timing. The reason behind this is Castellanos’s long history of mistimed home runs, which has become the talk of the baseball town. Here’s a timeline of all mistimed home runs that the player has made from 2020.

The saga of mistimed home run started in 2020, when Nick went for a home run during the Phillies vs Kansas City Royals. During the match, broadcaster, Thom Brennaman, was apologizing on-air for the homophobic slang he used recently.

During the apology, Castellanos hit a home run for which Thom had to pause, give an update on the home run, and then return to his apology. The awkward timing went viral all over social media.

The second strike happened in 2021, when the Royals’ broadcaster was eulogizing a World War II veteran, who died a few days back, at the age of 97. During the eulogy, Castellanos went for a home run, and the broadcaster had to chime in, “There’s a drive into deep left-center field.”

During the Spring Training of 2022, Nick again had his bad-timing moment. The broadcaster was discussing coach Pete Walker’s recent DUI arrest when Castellanos went for a single. The player again had his moment during Memorial Day, when broadcaster Tom McCarthy was paying tribute to the fallen members.

In the middle of the tribute, Nick went for a home run, and Tom had to pause his tribute mid-way. “Castellanos rips one to deep left field. It is gone!” said McCarthy to keep up with the game.

It seems the curse of bad-timing home runs is not just limited to memorable events and broadcasters. Nick had apparently hit a home run in 2023 when broadcaster Brian Anderson was sending good wishes to Charlie Manuel, the Phillies manager who recently had a stroke.

The year 2024 seems to be the one when Nick had the most mistimed home runs. He hit a homer when Willie Mays, legendary Giants player departed the world, one when former US President Donald Trump was shot in the ear, and again when Joe Biden said he won’t be standing for re-election. Nick even had a home run on the 23rd anniversary of the tragic 9/11 incident.

Apparently, Nick had his career first home run when he was in the Minors on the same day when Osama Bin Laden was declared dead. Well, it seems like the curse has been with the right fielder long back.

But, the real question is, will Nick hit another home run in the next Phillies game? Now that the news of Pope Francis’s demise is all over the news, will Nick’s poorly-timed homer curse return? Only time will tell.

Also Read: Phillies’ star Bryce Harper’s wife Kayla captures heartwarming moment as son Krew celebrates dad’s homer

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