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Phillies Cut Prospect Berroa in Surprise Roster Shakeup
Steward Berroa Stays with Phillies After Clearing Waivers
What Just Happened?
The Philadelphia Phillies have officially kept Steward Berroa in their organization—but he’s heading to the minor leagues. Here’s the simple breakdown:
- Berroa was designated for assignment (DFA’d) last weekend. That means the Phillies removed him from their 40-man roster to make room for someone else.
- He was placed on waivers, giving all 29 other MLB teams a chance to claim him.
- No team claimed him. This is the first time in four DFA situations over two years that he wasn’t scooped up by a new club.
- Because he cleared waivers, the Phillies outrighted him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley—their top minor league affiliate.
- Bottom line: Berroa stays a Phillie, just not on the major league roster right now.
Important Point: An "outright assignment" means a player is sent to the minors without the risk of losing them to another team. It’s the first time this has happened in Berroa’s career.
Who Is Steward Berroa?
Think of Berroa as a speedy, versatile outfielder who can hit from both sides of the plate (a switch-hitter). Here’s his baseball résumé in plain English:
- Age: 27
- Signed by: Toronto Blue Jays as an international free agent in 2016
- MLB Debut: 2024 with the Blue Jays
- Teams He’s Played For (MLB): Blue Jays, Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies
- Quick Stop: Spent time in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization but never played a big-league game for them.
How Has He Performed?
In the Major Leagues (Small Sample Size)
Berroa has had 49 plate appearances across three seasons. That’s like playing one full game spread out over three years.
| Stat | Number | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Hits | 7 | Not many |
| Walks | 9 | He has some patience at the plate |
| Strikeouts | 20 | Swings and misses a fair amount |
| OPS | .477 | Well below average (league average is ~.700–.750) |
Translation: His bat hasn’t translated to the big leagues yet.
In Triple-A (Much More Experience)
He’s had 926 plate appearances at the highest minor league level. That’s roughly two full seasons worth of at-bats.
| Stat | Number | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Home Runs | 17 | Some pop, but not a power hitter |
| Batting Average | .256 | Around average for Triple-A |
| OPS | .737 | Respectable, but not eye-popping |
Why Do the Phillies Still Want Him?
Even with a weak bat, Berroa brings three valuable tools that make him a great "emergency depth" piece:
- Speed – He can steal bases and cover ground in the outfield.
- Defense – He plays all three outfield positions well.
- Switch-Hitter – He can bat lefty or righty, giving managers flexibility.
Think of him like a Swiss Army Knife: Not a star, but super handy to have in your back pocket when injuries happen.
What’s Next for Berroa and the Phillies?
Here’s the likely roadmap:
- Phillies add an outfielder before the trade deadline (late July/early August).
- That new addition pushes Berroa further down the depth chart.
- Berroa stays at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, playing regularly and staying ready.
- If a Phillies outfielder gets hurt or struggles, Berroa gets the call-up.
The Phillies aren’t upset he cleared waivers—they’re actually relieved to keep a reliable depth option in their system.
Summary
- Steward Berroa cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
- This is his first outright assignment after being DFA’d four times in two years.
- He’s a 27-year-old switch-hitting outfielder with speed and defense but a weak MLB bat (.477 OPS).
- His Triple-A numbers are decent (.737 OPS), making him a solid depth piece.
- The Phillies plan to add an outfielder soon, but they’re happy to keep Berroa as insurance.
FAQ
What does "Designated for Assignment (DFA)" mean?
It means the team removes a player from their 40-man roster. They have 7 days to trade him, release him, or put him on waivers. If he clears waivers, he can be sent to the minors (outrighted).
What are waivers?
A 48-hour period where all other MLB teams can claim a player. If multiple teams claim him, the team with the worst record gets priority. If no one claims him, he "clears waivers."
What is an "outright assignment"?
Sending a player to the minors after they clear waivers. The player stays in the organization but loses 40-man roster spot. Players with enough service time can refuse and become free agents instead.
What is OPS and why does it matter?
OPS = On-Base Percentage + Slugging Percentage. It combines how often a player gets on base with how much power they have. League average is around .700–.750. Berroa’s .477 is very low; .737 in Triple-A is okay.
Why would the Phillies keep a player who hits poorly in MLB?
Because depth matters over a 162-game season. Injuries happen. Berroa’s speed, defense, and switch-hitting make him a low-cost, high-flexibility backup—like a spare tire you hope not to use but are glad to have.
