The Philadelphia Phillies have re-signed outfielder David Dahl to a minor league contract, assigning him to their Triple-A team, Lehigh Valley, as reported by Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Previously designated for assignment on July 9, Dahl had opted for free agency over an outright assignment.
Dahl, now 30, has had limited major league play in 2022-23 but was picked up by the Phillies earlier this summer. Initially a highly-touted prospect, drafted tenth overall, Dahl signed a minor league deal over the winter and excelled at Triple-A, hitting .340/.416/.660 with twelve home runs in 166 plate appearances. His impressive performance led to a promotion where he initially showed promise, hitting two home runs in his first three games. However, his success was short-lived as he then posted a .154/.196/.231 line over 56 plate appearances.
Dahl’s major league debut in 2016 at age 22 showed significant potential; he batted .315/.359/.500 with seven home runs and five steals in 237 plate appearances. Despite continued strong performance in subsequent seasons, injuries repeatedly sidelined him. From 2016-2019, Dahl maintained a .297/.346/.521 line but was frequently on the injured list with various ailments, including back, ankle, foot, and ribcage injuries, compounded by the earlier removal of his spleen due to a laceration.
These injuries have impacted Dahl’s performance, resulting in a .200/.237/.318 batting line over 390 plate appearances since 2020. Nevertheless, his stellar performance at Triple-A this year and brief resurgence in the majors suggest he may still have potential. Dahl will return to the IronPigs with hopes of earning another chance in the Phillies’ major league lineup.
