The Philadelphia Phillies made a minor roster move Monday, releasing 29-year-old infielder from their organization just before beginning a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners.
According to MiLB.com, the Phillies released Ritter from Double-A Reading. Philadelphia had signed the infielder to a minor-league contract on June 14, shortly after he was released by the Detroit Tigers.
Ritter spent his time with the Phillies organization at Double-A Reading, appearing in 45 games. He posted a .235 batting average with a .350 on-base percentage and a .349 slugging percentage, along with three home runs, eight doubles and 23 RBIs. He never reached the major leagues with Philadelphia and has yet to appear in an MLB game for any organization.
The Wichita State product was originally selected by the New York Mets in the seventh round, 208th overall, of the 2019 MLB Draft. Ritter remained in the Mets organization through the 2025 season before becoming a free agent.
His 2026 season saw him move between several organizations. After entering free agency, Ritter signed a minor-league deal with the Los Angeles Angels in January. The Angels released him on March 21, and he subsequently signed a minor-league contract with the Tigers on April 17 before eventually joining the Phillies.
The move comes as Philadelphia prepares for an important series in Seattle. The Phillies enter Monday’s matchup riding a nine-game winning streak after Kyle Schwarber hit a walk-off two-run homer against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. Philadelphia is now 73-58 and sits two games behind the Chicago Cubs for the top National League Wild Card spot and three games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East.
While Ritter’s release is unlikely to have a major impact on the Phillies’ big-league roster, it represents another organizational change as Philadelphia continues to adjust its minor-league personnel during the final stretch of the regular season.
