Last year, Cincinnati Reds outfielder Nick Castellanos hit a home run in the middle of an on-air apology from the team’s former announcer Thom Brennaman who used a homophobic slur on a hot mic. Brennaman called the play-by-play for the home run mid-apology and continued on with his remarks in a brutally uncomfortable TV moment.
That awkward apology became a meme, and the ill-time Nick Castellanos homer didn’t just apply to apologies. This season, Castellanos interrupted a somber moment on the Royals broadcast with another home run.
And while Castellanos obviously doesn’t play in the Frontier League, Washington Wild Things play-by-play announcer Kyle Dawson somewhat sensed the ill-timed homer coming as he paid tribute to his late uncle on the air.
“hope we don’t get Nick Castellanos’d and somebody hits a home run to tie the game right now”
welp… pic.twitter.com/tIj3gDP9vY
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 1, 2021
As Dawson was speaking about his uncle’s death, he realized that his remarks were extending into the inning. So, as an off-handed remark, he said, “This is going to take longer than I intended it to, but that’s OK. Just gonna give you the visuals and hope we don’t get Nick Castellanos’d. And somebody hits a home run to tie the game right now.”
The literal moment he completed that sentence, the Wild Things’ Grant Heyman launched a home run to right field.
Dawson reacted, “Of course. My goodness,” as the ball cleared the wall. He put that Nick Castellanos energy out there — it was bound to happen!
Dawson would tweet the video with a message for his Uncle Charlie.
Thanks for the moment, Uncle Charlie. Love you. pic.twitter.com/yfRiPHMao6
— Kyle Dawson (@RealKyleDawson) August 1, 2021
He wrote: “Thanks for the moment, Uncle Charlie. Love you.”
There’s no doubt that will be a special memory for what was clearly a tough time for Dawson and his family.
