Castellanos, Winker driven by raw emotions

CINCINNATI -- Throughout their breakout All-Star seasons for the Reds this year, right fielder Nick Castellanos and left fielder Jesse Winker have independently tapped into a resource previously missing from their games earlier in their careers.

It's raw emotion, and they've been more than ready to let it show. Both players have long had the talent to become All-Stars, but this is the year they put it altogether on and off the field partly because they have come into their own as people and players.

"I guess my emotions come out because I care a lot," Castellanos said. "If you care a lot about something, you're usually going to do it better than if you don't care that much."

• MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard: Tuesday on FOX

Castellanos and Winker have been at or near the top of the National League in several hitting categories much of this season. The NL's leader in batting, 29-year-old Castellanos is slashing .331/.384/.585 with 18 home runs, 29 doubles and 59 RBIs.

Winker endured his toughest stretch so far just before going into the All-Star break, but he is slashing .301/.382/.539 with 19 homers and 50 RBIs.

Their success was noticed by the fans, who elected them as starters for the NL team. It's the first time since 2013 that the Reds have had two starters in the Midsummer Classic, and it's the first time they've sent two starting outfielders since 1956.

"Early on when I first got called up to the big leagues, I feel like I was just trying to find my way a little bit and fit in, not rub anybody the wrong way, play hard and just try to get focused," Winker said. "I tried to adjust to the level. As time passes, you start learning about yourself and learning about the guys you're playing against and everything. You start believing in yourself more. That authenticity just came out. This year, I didn't try to mask it or hide. I just tried to let it go."

Winker called that feeling "100 percent" refreshing.

"I'm lucky that I have a great group of people here that allow me to just go be myself," he said. "I try to take it one day at a time and stay in the moment. Sometimes, it's a fist pump and a yell. Sometimes, it's a helmet slam. That's the whole package. I've tried to dial down the frustration part, but sometimes it comes out."

Castellanos, who signed a four-year, $64 million contract with the Reds before the 2020 season, admittedly didn't feel comfortable playing under pandemic restrictions last year -- especially with a new club. In 2021, he's become the one of the club's leaders.

In the season's second game on April 3, Castellanos possibly set the tone when he flexed over Cardinals pitcher Jake Woodford after sliding into him while scoring on a wild pitch. It came after he was plunked in retaliation for his bat flip from hitting a home run on Opening Day vs. St. Louis. The move got him suspended for two games, but the team and Reds fans have rallied behind him since.

Castellanos has been able to fire up his teammates with his aggressive style, and also pick them up when they're struggling with words of encouragement.

"When I was younger in Detroit, a lot of that was faded out," Castellanos said. "I was more worried about making sure I was having success and I wanted to stay in the big leagues. The sight of winning can kind of get blurred when you become unsure of yourself. Once I went to Chicago [in 2019] and got traded, I think all of it just naturally came back, because I left an organization that wasn't trying to win to having an opportunity to make the postseason."

The Cubs didn't make the postseason in 2019. But Castellanos did reach the playoffs with the Reds in '20, when they were swept in two games by the Braves. Cincinnati has been hovering around a .500 record much of this season but is still alive for a pennant chase in the second half.

"It's understanding how difficult it is to win and not wasting an opportunity when you have one," Castellanos said.

Drafted 49th overall by the Reds in 2012, Winker already has set his career highs in homers and RBIs this season. On May 21 at Cincinnati and again on June 6 at St. Louis, he delivered three-homer games -- the first Reds player to achieve the feat twice in one season.

Both Winker and Castellanos often hear chants of "MVP!" from fans at Great American Ball Park. Winker often interacts with fans in the left-field section of seats and might offer a fist bump to one if he's near the wall after a play.

When talking about his success at times this season, Winker has occasionally been emotional to the point where tears begin to flow. He's not afraid to show he's human off the field, either. Part of that, Winker believes, is that he became a first-time father during baseball's COVID-related shutdown.

Wren Mila Winker was born on May 27, 2020. Her father wears her "WW" initials on a necklace that's often visible during games.

"Mike Moustakas told me that when you become a girl dad, you're softer. Ever since I had my daughter, it's just come out -- raw emotion," Winker said. "Everything that's happened the last couple of months, I've tried to stop and enjoy it, because being a kid and being somebody who loves baseball and grew up in baseball, it's kind of been full circle in a way. A lot of appreciation. I'm very thankful for everything. It comes out with tears because part of me doesn't believe it still.

"Part of me doesn't believe I've hit three home runs in a game and part of me can't believe it's happened twice. I try not to think about it, but I will reflect on it at the end of the year. I try to get lost in helping the team win games."

Castellanos believed it was important for players to show that they aren't robots on the field.

"I'm definitely not afraid tell people how I feel, almost to a fault, because it gets me into trouble sometimes," Castellanos said. "You protect the investments, don't truck the catchers and slide right into the base and all of these things. Catch a ball like this, swing like this, spin rate like this. Then instead of it becoming a child's game being played to win, it becomes a showcase where you have players wanting to play to make the most money possible."

The festivities around the All-Star Game in Colorado will give all players a chance to really soak in their seasons of personal success and a festive atmosphere. The father of a 7-year-old son, Castellanos plans to enjoy the moment with him.

"I'm really excited to experience it all with my son and wife and family," Castellanos said. "I think it's going to be a fun experience and great memory for them."

Winker will be there with his daughter among others, grateful for the opportunity he's received this week.

"My whole family is going. I know they know that none of this is possible without them, the same with my coaches and teammates," Winker said. "I'm really going to enjoy it. These are the best players in the game. Just to be around them and listen to them and talk to them and get to share a clubhouse with them is cool."