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Phillies: 24 Departed Players from 2019 Major League Roster

By Matt Rappa

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 15: Brad Miller #33 of the Philadelphia Phillies during a game against the Boston Red Sox at Citizens Bank Park on September 15, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Red Sox won 6-3. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 15: Brad Miller #33 of the Philadelphia Phillies during a game against the Boston Red Sox at Citizens Bank Park on September 15, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Red Sox won 6-3. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /
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OF Aaron Altherr (Korean Baseball Organization)

phillies
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 24: Aaron Altherr #23 of the Philadelphia Phillies before a game against the New York Mets at Citi Field on April 24, 2019 in New York City. The Phillies defeated the Mets 6-0. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
  • Philadelphia Phillies (2014-19)
  • San Francisco Giants (2019)
  • New York Mets (2019)
  • NC Dinos (KBO, 2020 – Present)

Drafted in the ninth round of the 2009 amateur draft out of Aqua Fria High School (Avondale, Arizona), Aaron Altherr began his career at a historic pace.

RELATED | Phillies DFA Aaron Altherr, Odubel Herrera back from IL

As a rookie in 2015, the first seven hits the German outfielder collected in his career each went for extra bases: four doubles, one triple, and two home runs. He became the first ever Phillie to do so, and the first in the majors since the Oakland Athletics’ Carlos Gonzalez in 2008.

That, in a nutshell, was the pinnacle point of Altherr’s major-league career, other than launching the first-ever grand slam off of future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw. Also, who could forget his inside-the-park grand slam opposite the Washington Nationals in late September (albeit it being on a Michael Taylor misplay in center field).

RELATED | Phillies: Breaking down the Nick Williams vs. Aaron Altherr dilemma

From 2016 to 2019, across 318 games and 990 plate appearances, Altherr slashed just .216/.304/.389 with 43 doubles, six triples, 32 home runs, 128 RBI, 94 walks and 289 strikeouts. After leaving the Phillies and joining the San Francisco Giants last season, Altherr received only one big-league plate appearance in which he struck out. Then, he joined the New York Mets, where he collected just four this (one double, one home run and two singles) spanning 26 games and 35 plate appearances.

Now, the 29-year-old will head to Korea, where fellow former failed high-ranking prospects have gone, such as Darin Ruf and Tommy Joseph, among others. In late November, the NC Dinos announced they signed Altherr for a $200,000 signing bonus and $800,000 salary.

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