Philadelphia Phillies Place Infielder On Waivers

The Philadelphia Phillies have decided to designate infielder Drew Ellis for assignment.

Drew Ellis, a 27-year-old infielder, had joined the Phillies on a minor league deal in April and was added to the 40-man roster in June.

During his brief stint in the majors, Ellis impressed by drawing walks in six of his 29 plate appearances, resulting in a .217/.379/.478 batting line.

Phillies DFAd Drew Ellis to clear a 40-man spot for Orion Kerkering. Yunior Marte was optioned.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) September 22, 2023

However, his overall major league career performance, including previous seasons, has been less stellar, with a .157/.295/.269 batting line in just 129 plate appearances.

While Ellis showcased his potential in the majors, his most consistent performance has been in Triple-A.

The Phillies selected the contract of RHP Orion Kerkering from Lehigh Valley (AAA). To make room for Kerkering on the 28-man roster, RHP Yunior Marte was optioned to Lehigh Valley. To make room on the 40-man roster, INF Drew Ellis was designated for assignment.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 22, 2023

Over 1,124 plate appearances at that level, he posted a slash line of .247/.364/.500, indicating a still underwhelming performance in the minors.

Now designated for assignment, Drew Ellis is subject to waivers, and if he clears waivers, he has the option to reject an outright assignment and become a free agent due to a previous career outright.

This move by the Phillies opens up roster flexibility as they make room for emerging talent and evaluate their roster options moving forward. Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports