Phillies Cut Ties with Former All-Star Domonic Brown

Domonic Brown was outrighted off the Phillies' 40-man roster today. He'll almost certainly elect free agency, which means his tenure with the team is over.

Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Domonic Brown (9) high fives team mates in the dugout after hitting a three RBI home run during the third inning against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. | Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Domonic Brown (9) high fives team mates in the dugout after hitting a three RBI home run during the third inning against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. | Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

At one point, he was the future. At another, he was an All-Star. Now, Domonic Brown is a about to become a former Phillie.

The once-untouchable prospect was one of four players outrighted off the Phillies’ 40-man roster today. Outfielders Brian Bogusevic and Kelly Dugan, and catcher Tommy Joseph, were also removed from the 40-man.

The move means Brown can elect to become a free agent. He would have been in his second year of salary arbitration had he stayed with the team.

Brown was Baseball America’s No. 1 overall prospect in 2010, a time when the Phillies big-league club was flying high as well. Brown came up with a splash that year, going 2-for-3 with a double and 2 RBI in his first game with the Phillies on July 28th. He ended up hitting just .210 that year, and made just three at-bats that postseason (his only three with the club; went 0-for-3 but scored 1 run).

After brief stints with the club in 2011 and 2012, Brown broke out in 2013. He hit .273 with 23 homers and 67 RBI in the first half of the season and was named to the All-Star team. Brown hit 12 homers in the month of May alone that season.

But he faded in the second half of 2013, hitting just 4 homers for a total of 27. And the next year was not any better. The Sporting News named him the worst everyday left fielder in 2014, as he hit just .235 with 10 homers. He began the 2015 season in the minor leagues, and played only 63 games this season for the Phillies. He hit .228 with 5 homers.

Tommy Joseph is another intriguing former prospect outrighted by the Phillies today. He was the centerpiece of the trade that sent Hunter Pence to the Giants midway through the 2012 season. At the time, he was projected as a starting catcher. But he suffered three concussions in the minor leagues; the Phillies moved him to first base this season due to the head injuries. He’s still under team control, and will play in the minors next year.

By league rules, Brown can accept a minor league assignment with the Phillies or elect free agency. He’ll certainly go the free agent route, so his career with the team is over. He ends his Phillies career with a .246 average and 54 homers. Half of them were in that one season.