Phillies Sign Former First-Round Pick, Rookie of Year Candidate

The Philadelphia Phillies have bolstered their outfield depth, by signing a former first-round pick in the MLB Draft, and a Rookie of the Year candidate, in ex-St. Louis Cardinal Dylan Carlson.

The Phillies have signed Dylan Carlson to a minor-league deal, per @JimSalisbury215. He will go to LHV. pic.twitter.com/JsJt47afU9
— Luke Arcaini (@ArcainiLuke) May 12, 2026

It's a minor league deal for Carlson, who will head straight to the Phillies' Triple-A club at Lehigh Valley.

Carlson, now 27, was the 33rd overall pick in 2016, and was a top 20 overall prospect in baseball when he was called up by the Cardinals in 2021. He finished third in NL Rookie of the Year balloting that year with 18 homers and a .780 OPS. Along with Tyler O'Neill, and Harrison Bader, Carlson was one-third of the Cardinals' supposed outfield of the future. But it never really panned out for any of them in a big way.

They've all since moved on, several times. Carlson actually joined O'Neill as free agent signings for the Orioles last year, but Carlson has since moved on again, and was released earlier this season by the Chicago Cubs after appearing in just three games with them.

He'll provide depth for the Phillies, as he can play all three outfield positions. For now, he'll be doing it in AAA.