6/17/26 : Phillies add 3 minor league free agents

As far as we know a week ago today was the last day my son Dan lived on this earth. We remain terribly hurt and saddened by his departure. To those of you that reached out with sincere condolences thank you for doing so.

When his status of missing was posted on multiple social media platforms most of the commentary was kind however there were a few that showed themselves to be mean spirited, ignorant, small minded and spiteful. I will never ever understand why some take pleasure in belittling others. I will never understand for example why “fans” boo and/or berate players - it’s not “keeping it real”, it’s a show of ignorance and an unjustified act of implying a false superiority by demeaning. It turns my stomach, the even more idiotic remarks some made about my son portray an ignorance beyond compare and are infuriating.

My heartbreak over the loss of my son and dismay over how some morons reacted made me strongly consider (again) disconnecting from social media and discontinuing my writing about Phillies Player Development … isolating and insulating from the world. But both my son seemed to and others of you have remarked that you enjoy the coverage I provide in reading about the players and process - it would disappoint him if I discontinued on his account.

I love my son Dan with all my heart like I do all three of my other children. It hurts that he is gone and we will mourn his loss forever yet will always cherish his memory. That’s the beauty and gift of life, the impact you make on others. Dan wouldn’t want us to disengage from life so we will forge ahead however sad that some moments may be thinking about his loss, there are too many good memories of his time with us to outweigh those and we will lean heavily in that regard.

I enjoy promoting and advocating for the folks in the Phillies Player Development program, highlighting their endeavors. In that spirit and in honor of my son’s memory I continue writing and posting about them.

So here goes …

Injuries and trades have necessitated the need to fill roster voids in the Phillies Minor League system. With that in mind three players have been signed to contracts.

Reading :

UTL Luke Ritter (RH hitter)  -  29 years old - 2019 7th round draft selection of the New York Mets - Wichita State (was a college teammate of Alec Bohm) - is from Overland Park, Kansas. Reached the AAA level of play - has been in three organizations (Mets, Angels & Tigers) - released by Tigers 6/2/26 - signed by Phillies 6/14/26. Has played all four infield and both corner outfield positions in his career as well as seven games as a mop-up pitcher. Hit 27 home runs at AAA Syracuse in 2023 followed by 26 home runs there in 2025 and 11 last season. Career .231/.338/.416 slash line in 646 minor league games with 97 doubles and 98 home runs in 2,609 plate appearances.

UTL Riley Tirotta - (RH hitter) - 27 years old - 2021 12th round draft selection of the Toronto Blue Jays - Dayton - is from South Bend, Indiana. Released by Toronto 6/9/26 - signed by Phillies 6/16/26. Has played at the AAA level the past three seasons, was an NRI this spring to Blue Jays big league camp. Primarily plays 1B and 3B but has played 2B, SS, LF and RF in his pro career. Hit 15 home runs and posted 62 RBIs at AAA in 2024 and 12 home runs with 60 RBIs in 2025. Career .244/.354/.406 slash line in 477 minor league games (1,904 PA’s) with 79 doubles, 53 home runs and 244 RBIs.

Clearwater :

1B Lyle Miller-Green (RH hitter)  - 25 years old - 2024 17th round draft selection of the Chicago White Sox - Austin Peay - born in Tomsk, Russia - was adopted as an infant by his parents from the United States and grew up in Burke, Virginia. During his collegiate career he played for George Mason, Chipola College, Oklahoma State, and Austin Peay. In his final college season in 2024, he earned multiple First Team All-America honors while slashing .393/.533/.900 with 30 home runs and 94 RBIs and was named ASUN Player of the Year. Drafted as a two-way player by White Sox, has not pitched professionally but did so in college and high school. Is a huge human at 6’5” 237 - released by White Sox 3/17/26 - signed by Phillies 6/16/26. In two minor league seasons at the A level of play (90 of his 118 games played are at Low A) he’s posted a career .240/.376/.376 slash line with 16 doubles, 9 home runs and 54 RBIs in 482 plate appearances. He has been playing for the Down East Bird Dawgs in the Frontier League this season and had recorded a .315/.409/.492 slash line and .901 OPS in 32 games (154 PA’s) with 8 doubles, 5 home runs and 26 RBIs.

Baseball ⚾️

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