Former Dodgers Outfielder Designated for Assignment By NL's Best Team

Sam Garcia | Jul 11, 2024

BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY

The Phillies designated former Dodgers outfielder David Dahl for assignment on Monday. He and infielder Kody Clemens, who was optioned to triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday, were replaced on the Philadelphia roster by designated hitter Kyle Schwarber and first baseman Bryce Harper, who were both reinstated from the 10-day injured list ahead of their series against the Dodgers.

Wednesday, Dahl cleared waivers and elected free agency. Rather than playing a revenge series against the team he finished last season with, Dahl will be looking for employment.

David Dahl (DFA on 7/8) has cleared waivers and has elected free agency.

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) July 10, 2024

The outfielder has battled with injuries nearly every season for the past few years, including a stress fracture in his rib cage, a right foot fracture, an ankle sprain, a strain on his throwing shoulder, and most recently, last April, a right quad strain.

This season, Dahl has made 19 appearances on the Phillies’ big league roster. He struggled at the plate, batting .207/.242/.397 with 21 strikeouts, three walks and only 12 hits in 58 at-bats. 

Before joining the Phillies in February, Dahl signed a minor league contract with the Dodgers in June 2023. Although he never appeared in a major league game with Los Angeles, he did appear in 54 games with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers last season. 

Dahl split his 2023 season with the Oklahoma City Dodgers and El Paso Chihuahuas, a San Diego Padres Triple-A affiliate.

In Oklahoma City, Dahl batted .282/.354/.493 with an .847 OPS and a total of eight home runs and 39 RBIs. In El Paso, Dahl batted .265/.342/.382 with one home run and 10 RBIs across 17 games. 

Dahl, 30, spent the first nine seasons of his pro career (2012-20) in the Colorado Rockies organization. He's played for six organizations in the four years since, with a chance to make it five soon.