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Phillies Release Outfielder Dylan Carlson After Struggles in Triple-A
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- Phillies Release Outfielder Dylan Carlson After Struggles in Triple-A
The Philadelphia Phillies parted ways with outfielder Dylan Carlson on Friday, ending the former first-round pick's brief stint with the organization. Carlson was released by the club's Triple-A affiliate, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, ahead of Philadelphia's series against the Detroit Tigers .
Carlson joined the Phillies on a minor league contract in May after being released by the Chicago Cubs organization earlier this season. The 27-year-old never reached the major league roster during his time with Philadelphia as he struggled to regain offensive consistency.
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The switch-hitting outfielder batted .181 with four home runs and a .614 OPS across 153 plate appearances for Lehigh Valley. Once considered one of baseball's top prospects, Carlson was selected 33rd overall by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2016 MLB Draft before making his major league debut in 2020.
Carlson's release marks the end of a short experiment for the Phillies, who hoped the former Cardinals outfielder could rediscover his offensive production. Instead, his struggles at the plate prevented him from earning a promotion to the major league club.
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The move also creates an opening on Lehigh Valley's roster as Philadelphia continues evaluating organizational depth ahead of the July trade deadline. Carlson now becomes a free agent and is eligible to sign with another organization.
The Phillies entered the weekend atop the National League East, while their Triple-A affiliate continues developing players who could contribute later this season. Moving on from Carlson allows the organization to create opportunities for other outfielders within the system.
Philadelphia Phillies manager Don Mattingly (8)USA TODAY Network
Carlson will now look for another opportunity after his latest attempt to return to the major leagues ended in Triple-A. At 27, the former top prospect still has experience and defensive versatility that could attract interest from another organization.
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Philadelphia will continue relying on its current group of outfielders as it prepares for the second half of the season and a push toward the postseason.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jul 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
