Even though the MLB trade deadline has passed, the Philadelphia Phillies continue to add to their depth, at least in the minor leagues. On Monday, the team signed outfielder Ryan McKenna to a minor league contract.
The acquisition was first reported by Matt Gelb of The Athletic, who indicated McKenna would be assigned to Triple-A. The 27-year-old was recently designated for assignment by the San Francisco Giants before being waived and dismissed.
The Phillies have signed Ryan McKenna, a former top prospect with the Baltimore Orioles, to bolster their outfield depth. McKenna, a fourth-round draft pick in 2015, reached as high as No. 7 in the Orioles’ MLB Pipeline rankings in 2019. Interestingly, current Phillies outfielder Austin Hays was ranked No. 4 that same year.
McKenna made his debut in 2021, appearing in 90 games and batting .183/.292/.266 with a high strikeout rate of 37.6%. He shuttled between the Orioles and their Triple-A team, the Norfolk Tides, throughout the season. Over the next two seasons (2022-2023), he played 194 games with the Orioles, improving his slash line to .245/.304/.349 but still maintaining a significant strikeout rate of 30.5%.
Despite a strong showing earlier this season with Baltimore, where he hit .375 with a pair of home runs in limited at-bats, McKenna was designated for assignment on May 13 and later claimed by the Giants. His stint with the Giants was brief, going hitless in six plate appearances before being released on August 3.
McKenna has shown promise defensively, accumulating eight defensive runs saved and six outs above average across all three outfield positions during his MLB career. With consistent playing time for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the Phillies’ Triple-A affiliate, McKenna could position himself as a viable option for the majors, especially if the Phillies need additional outfield depth due to injuries later in the season.
