For a while there, it looked like Nicholas Castellanos was just what the Chicago Cubs offense needed in the 2019 second half to push them into October.
After they acquired him in a trade deadline deal with the Detroit Tigers, Castellanos provided the Cubs with a shot in the arm offensively. In 51 games with the club, he delivered a stellar .321/.356/.646 slash line, good for a ridiculous 1.002 OPS.
Free from the wraths of pitcher-friendly Comerica Park, Castellanos’ power numbers instantly went up on the North Side, too. He hit 16 home runs with the Cubs, up from the 11 he hit in 100 games with Detroit.