DETROIT – It's a subtle change many of us are still getting used to, but one that seems to have worked for the Detroit Tigers' young third baseman.
Nicholas Castellanos came up through the Tigers' organization as "Nick," and only last season morphed into the near-elite offensive player the team expected.
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At 24 years old, Castellanos smacked a career-high 18 home runs and reached base at a .331 clip. He posted an excellent OPS of .827 and was well on his way to an all-around breakout season.
But then on Aug. 6, Castellanos was hit on the hand by a pitch from Logan Verrett in an interleague game against the Mets. He was sidelined for about seven weeks and returned for only 13 at-bats at the end of the season.
READ: Miguel Cabrera in major slump to start 2017 season
This year, Castellanos showed up with a different first name but the same beautiful swing. Through eight games, the 25-year-old is slugging .581 with five extra-base hits in eight games.
The numbers don't tell the whole story, either.
Castellanos has made more consistent hard contact than anyone on the team, and he's doing it to all fields. In Sunday's game against former Tigers starter Rick Porcello, Castellanos singled in his first at-bat, hit solid line drives to center field the next two times up and cranked a go-ahead homer into the visitor's bullpen in his fourth at-bat.
He drew a walk in the ninth inning against Craig Kimbrel for good measure.
Those five plate appearances demonstrated the improvements Castellanos has made over the last two years. For a guy who hit primarily in the No. 6 and 7 slots in the batting order two years ago, he's settled nicely into the most important spot in the Tigers' lineup: the No. 2 hole.
One of the top reasons the Tigers have gotten out to such a hot start, despite Miguel Cabrera's slump, is because Castellanos has eight hits, four RBI and six runs scored in eight games. He leads the team with 18 total bases and sets the pace atop the lineup, along with Ian Kinsler.
Castellanos has been a good fit near the top of the lineup because he's been one of the most consistent hitters on the roster over the last three seasons. Castellanos hits right-handed pitchers almost as well as he hits lefties, and even the spacious Comerica Park hasn't hurt his production (his power numbers have actually been better at home).
The Tigers have only played eight games this season, and Castellanos is just 25 years old, but he's showing why he was considered the most promising young hitter in the organization.