The Phillies have launched outfielder Simón Muzziotti, per Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer on X. The outfielder was outrighted off the Phillies’ roster in February, so this received’t affect the membership’s 40-man rely.
Muzziotti, now 25, was initially a global signing of the Purple Sox out of Venezuela however then Boston was discovered to have violated worldwide signing guidelines. As a punishment, the Sox weren’t allowed to make any worldwide signings within the 2016-17 interval and 5 gamers they’d beforehand signed have been declared free brokers, one among whom was Muzziotti.
He then landed a brand new cope with the Phillies and labored his method up via their system. The Phils positioned him on their 40-man roster in November of 2020 to maintain him out of the Rule 5 draft however he ended up lacking most of 2021 as a result of visa points.
In 2022, he was capable of make his main league debut, stepping into 9 video games. He hit simply .143./.250/.143 in these, however in simply 9 plate appearances. He spent most of his time within the minors however that season was ended prematurely as a result of a torn patellar tendon in his proper knee.
Because of the pandemic canceling the minor leagues in 2020, Muzziotti’s visa points in 2021 and accidents in 2022, he was capable of play simply 66 minor league video games in that three-year stretch. Final 12 months, he stayed wholesome sufficient to get into 124 Triple-A video games and hit .296/.358/.404 in these. That translated to a 93 wRC+, indicating he was 7% under league common, however that’s satisfactory manufacturing for Muzziotti since he’s been thought-about a robust defender and a speedster on the bases.
Regardless of lastly having a gradual season, the Phillies designated him for project in February of this 12 months and the 29 different golf equipment handed on the possibility to seize him off waivers. He didn’t have the proper to elect free company so he caught with the Phils in a non-roster capability however his outcomes have tapered off this 12 months. He’s slashed .235/.297/.373 in his 61 Triple-A contests for a wRC+ of 70, prompting the Phils to maneuver on and let him go.
Muzziotti and his representatives will now search for alternatives elsewhere. Although his outcomes have been poor this 12 months, he’s nonetheless fairly younger and gives a good ground along with his pace and protection. Coming into this 12 months, Baseball America nonetheless ranked him because the #22 prospect within the Phillies’ system.
