The Philadelphia Phillies announced on Saturday that they have released a promising young infielder from their minor league system, parting ways after a challenging campaign that failed to meet organizational expectations.
The move was documented in the official minor league transaction log and signals a roster shake‑up early in the 2026 season.
The player had initially joined the Phillies as part of the club’s 2024 international free agent class, signing as a 16‑year‑old out of the Dominican Republic and beginning his professional career in rookie ball with the Dominican Summer League affiliate. In that first season, he showed some early promise by tying for the team lead in hits and doubles, though his performance also included a high number of strikeouts and several defensive miscues.
The released player is Meylin De Leon, a third baseman who saw time at multiple positions during his most recent stint with the Florida Complex League Phillies. Despite his versatility, De Leon struggled significantly at the plate and in the field in 2025, finishing with one of the lowest offensive lines among everyday players and committing eight errors in just 40 games played.
De Leon’s offensive numbers in rookie ball and the complex league painted a difficult development path for the 18‑year‑old, with a .252/.350/.318 slash in the Dominican Summer League followed by a steep drop to a .370 OPS with the FCL Phillies. His offensive struggles were compounded by defensive inconsistency, prompting the organization to move on.
While the release marks a setback for De Leon’s early career, he remains a young player with time to grow and refine his game. It’s possible another organization will take a chance on him and invest in his development, as teams often do with international prospects who show tools but need refinement.