Having never lived up to his potential, the Philadelphia Phillies have elected to outright outfielder Tyson Gillies off their 40-man roster. He’s spent the bulk of the 2014 season with the team’s Triple-A affiliate thus far, which is where he will remain.
Philadelphia initially acquired Gillies following the 2009 season from the Seattle Mariners, as part of the package of players (along with Phillippe Aumont and J.C. Ramirez) the team received in exchange for Cliff Lee. Gillies had been highly touted at the time, reaching as high as #8 on the Mariners’ Top 10 prospect list entering the season. That year he’d hit .341/.430/.486 in 593 PA for the team’s High-A affiliate as a 19 year old.
Things have gone downhill for Gillies since. He’s coped with injuries and poor production at the plate, coupled with numerous reports surrounding a lack of hustle and poor attitude.
Gillies hit just .243/.302/.336 in his first season in the Phillies organization, limited to just 24 games. This season he’s primarily spent at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he’s appeared in 37 games. In 155 plate appearances he’s managed to bat just .217/.281/.304 while striking out more than once a game.
Trading Lee in 2009 has proved to be a near disaster for the Phillies. Aumont has struggled with mechanical issues and a fragile mental makeup. He holds a career ERA of 4.79 with a 1.682 WHIP in 35.2 IP, all in relief, after once being a 1st Round pick in the 2007 Draft. Ramirez made just 18 appearances with the team, resulting in a 7.50 ERA and 1.875 WHIP, and was released by the team following the 2013 season. Now Gillies has been removed from the 40-man roster, never coming close to earning a call up to the Major Leagues.