Bets On Nick Castellanos Soar After Passing Of Pope Francis

The Catholic world mourned the loss of Pope Francis on Monday when it was announced that the 88-year-old had passed away, just hours after the Easter holiday. The passing of the important figure is seen as a tragedy in the religious world, and there will be remembrances and ceremonies to celebrate his life in the coming days and weeks. But it was also apparently an opportunity for bettors as well, who rushed to the sportsbooks to place wagers on Nick Castellanos.

Will Nick Castellanos Homer After Passing Of Pope Francis?

The Philadelphia Phillies’ third baseman has a knack for hitting home runs in noteworthy moments. It has become something of a phenomenon for those following baseball and Castellano’s career, as the list of dingers at important times continues to grow.

It started when Castellanos went yard during a 2020 game while playing for the Cincinnati Reds. Team broadcaster Thom Bennaman was giving a meaningful apology on-air for a gaffe that took place earlier in the game, and was meant to be a serious moment. But Castellanos hitting the long ball forced Brennaman to mention the feat while he questioned the future of his own career, which made for a viral sensation.

Nick Castellanos has a history of hitting dingers during major news events or noteworthy deaths.

Pope Francis just passed away.@Phillies outfielder (+625) is the most bet player to hit a Home Run today.

3X as many bets on Castellanos as any other player at @BetMGM pic.twitter.com/w8mJO2kJWz

— John Ewing (@johnewing) April 21, 2025

The moment was etched in history, and was the start of an unusual trend for Nick Castellanos. Since the incident, the slugger has been known to hit home runs during or following notable events. There is an entire Wikipedia page dedicated to the subject, which includes a list of all the world events and pop culture moments that Castellanos has homered among.

Here are just a handful of them:

2021 – During an on-air eulogy for a WWII veteran

2021 – On the 20th anniversary of the September 11th attacks

2022 – During a Memorial Day tribute given by Phillies play-by-play announcer

2024 – Half hour after the announcement of Willie Mays’ death

2024 – Hours after Donald Trump assassination attempt

2025 – Minutes after Alexander Ovechkin broke the NHL all-time goals record

Bettors are hoping that today’s religious news will prompt another home run from Nick Castellanos. According to multiple sources, he is the MLB player who has seen the most action when it comes to betting on whether they’ll hit a home run during Monday’s slate of action. At the time of writing, he was carrying a +650 designation for the achievement, and had received three times as many wagers as any other player according to BetMGM.

The Phillies will be in New York on Monday evening to take on the Mets. The game will get under way at 7:10pm Eastern.