The Phillies announced the release of first baseman Ty Penner and right-handed pitcher Eric Garcia on January 24, 2024. 

Penner signed as a non-drafted free agent on August 1, 2022 out of the university of British Columbia.  He had a breakout college season in 2022 slashing .340/.449/.619/1.069.

Penner only got into 10 FCL games his signing season slashing .129/.206/.258/.464 in 34 plate appearances.  He fared a little better in 2023 in the FCL going .286/.466/.405/.870 in 38 plate appearances.  But, struggled with Clearwater – .118/.211/.147/.358 in 38 plate appearances.  He took almost all of his defensive reps at third base posting a .929 fielding percentage in a small sample size of 56 chances.

Garcia signed as a non-drafted free agent on August 1, 2022 out of Eastern Florida State Junior College.  In 2 seasons, Garcia made 19 appearances and pitched 22.1 innings in the FCL.  He did post a 12.1 K9 but also an 8.9 BB9 and 2.328 WHIP.

Both players were 23-years-old at the lowest level of the organization.  That plus heading into their age-24 season along with MLB’s lower limit for minor league players means that organizations can’t be as patient with players as they have been in the past.

I’m sure we all wish them well in his future baseball endeavors.