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Phillies’ Nick Castellanos hit a home run during spring training — right after Brandon Graham retired

The Phillies outfielder has become synonymous with hitting home runs during newsy times.

Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos watches his solo homer during the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton, Fla. The home run came about a hour after longtime Eagle Brandon Graham retired.
Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos watches his solo homer during the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton, Fla. The home run came about a hour after longtime Eagle Brandon Graham retired.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer

Nick Castellanos has done it again.

He has become synonymous with home runs at sad and hilarious times, and on Tuesday, during a spring training game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, he hit another — approximately an hour after Eagles legend Brandon Graham announced his retirement following 15 NFL seasons.

» READ MORE: Brandon Graham ends an Eagles career defined by positivity and wisdom with a speech to match

Of course, it was a deep drive to left field.

Castellanos’ knack for hitting home runs at newsy moments first came in 2020 while he was playing for the Cincinnati Reds. Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman attempted to apologize for using a homophobic slur on the air, coining a now-famous line.

“I pride myself and think of myself as a man of faith, as there’s a drive into deep left field by Castellanos,” Brennaman said. “It will be a home run, and so that’ll make it a 4-0 ballgame. I don’t know if I’m going to be putting on this headset again.”

» READ MORE: Nick Castellanos can’t stop hitting home runs during historic and somber moments. Here are a dozen examples.

Brennaman returned to the air calling ACC football games on the CW Sports network in 2024 after a four-year absence.

Somewhere along the way, Castellanos became synonymous with hitting home runs at tragic and historic times, including the death of Osama bin Laden, when Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race, a tribute to Charlie Manuel after a stroke, and the I-95 collapse.

Now he gets another as a Philadelphia legend calls it a career. He’s nothing if not consistent.