Castellanos Supports Iglesias for 2024 NL MVP

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos stirred controversy by suggesting that New York Mets' Jose Iglesias deserved the 2024 NL MVP award over Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, who posted a historic season with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases. Castellanos praised Iglesias for his pivotal role in transforming the Mets' performance and creating a winning environment, despite Iglesias' limited playtime of 85 games and his .337 batting average. However, Ohtani's unprecedented achievements, including becoming the first player to join the MLB's 50-50 club, ultimately secured him the MVP title with unanimous votes. Castellanos argued that Iglesias's impact on team dynamics was more valuable than pure statistics, a view not widely shared by fans or sabermetricians. The Mets' strong season, culminating in a NLCS appearance, was attributed by some to Iglesias' influence, although Francisco Lindor's contributions were also acknowledged. Meanwhile, Castellanos' mother remains optimistic about the Phillies' prospects for the 2025 season, expressing her confidence through bets on the team’s success.