The MLB season had its first bench-clearing incident of 2021 on Saturday when the Reds’ Nick Castellanos flexed in the face of Jake Woodford after sliding into home.
As far as bench-clearing altercations go, it wasn’t the most dramatic scene and didn’t really escalate beyond a several pockets of shouting, pushing and holding each other back. It fell shy of a full-out BASEBRAWL.
But the whole catalyst of the incident fell back to Castellanos, who again flexed at Woodford after the Cardinals pitcher possibly threw at him intentionally earlier in the inning. And baseball players being how they are, tend to take such celebrations as disrespect.
As the teams were going at one another, Castellanos basically remained stoic with his arms crossed behind his back as Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina had words for him.
The Reds' and Cardinals' dugouts have emptied after Nick Castellanos scores on a wild pitch. pic.twitter.com/M8sSctUjbo
— Bally Sports Cincinnati (@BallySportsCIN) April 3, 2021
But leave it to Castellanos to let everyone know just how much respect he had for Molina — even after Molina chewed him out.
Nick Castellanos on Yadier Molina: "That guy could punch me in the face and I'd still ask him for a signed jersey"
— C. Trent Rosecrans (@ctrent) April 4, 2021
Castellanos said after the game that Molina could have punched him in the face, and he still would have asked for Molina’s autograph.
Awesome.
Of course, Molina did not punch Castellanos in the face. But that’s about the most respectful message you’ll get from a player who was just involved in a bench-clearing altercation.
