Rick Osentoski- USA TODAY Sports
Some were surprised it came so soon, some were surprised it didn’t happen sooner. Yet here Nick Castellanos was patrolling the outfield after pinch-hitting in the seventh inning of Sunday’s game. Jim Leyland wasted no time introducing Nick Castellanos to the Detroit Tigers fans after he had just been called up as part of the September call-ups and while the debut ended in no hits in two at bats there is plenty reason to be excited.
The 21-year-old Castellanos has been the star prospect for the last two years in the Tigers organization and the one who was constantly brought up in any potential trade during the trading deadline. Moved to the outfield due to a pretty large roadblock over at third base, it is finally time after a wait that while short seemed to Tigers fans like forever. It has been a little while since the Tigers had a prospect with this much buzz and even longer that a prospect with this much buzz wasn’t shipped in a trade before even getting a shot. By not moving Castellanos, Dave Dombroski has already spoke volumes to what Tigers fans can expect and hope in years to come. Castellanos isn’t like all of the rest.
Over the next few weeks, we will get a chance to see how Nick Castellanos adapts to the Major Leagues and the pressure of late-season pro baseball. A lot is going to be expected but it’s important to remember that success or struggle the fact that he has this opportunity at the age of 21 only speaks to the seriousness of Nick Castellanos’s talent. It’s been a long time since the Tigers have gotten to be excited about a homegrown minor league talent, so enjoy it for all it’s worth.
Brent Smith is a Detroit Tigers writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @brentweets or add him to your network on Google.
