The Phillies have dismissed outfielder Simón Muzziotti, according to Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer on X. The outfielder was removed from the Phillies’ roster in February, thus his absence will not affect the team’s 40-man roster.
Muzziotti, now 25, was the Red Sox’s first international signing from Venezuela, but Boston was determined to have violated international signing rules. As a result, the Sox were prohibited from making any foreign signings in 2016-17, and five previously signed players, including Muzziotti, were declared free agents.
He subsequently signed a new contract with the Phillies and worked his way up through the organization. The Phillies added him to their 40-man roster in November 2020 to keep him out of the Rule 5 draft, but he ended up missing the majority of 2021 due to visa concerns.
In 2022, he made his main league debut, appearing in nine games. He hit only.143/.250/.143 in those nine plate appearances. He spent the majority of his time in the minors, but his season ended prematurely due to a torn patellar tendon in his right knee.
Due to the pandemic cancelling the minor leagues in 2020, Muzziotti’s visa issues in 2021, and injuries in 2022, he was only able to play 66 minor league games over three years.
Last year, he stayed healthy enough to play 124 Triple-A games, hitting.296/.358/.404. That led to a 93 wRC+, putting him 7% below league average, but that’s acceptable production for Muzziotti, who is known for his superb defence and quickness on the bases.
Despite finally having a consistent season, the Phillies designated him for assignment in February of this year, and the remaining 29 teams passed him up on waivers. He did not have the right to free agency, therefore he remained with the Phillies as a non-roster player, although his performance has dipped this season. He hit.235/.297/.373 in 61 Triple-A games for a wRC+ of 70, causing the Phillies to release him.
Muzziotti and his representatives will now seek chances elsewhere. Though his results have been dismal this year, he is still relatively young and provides a solid foundation with his speed and defence. Coming into this year, Baseball America listed him as the Phillies’ No. 22 prospect.
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