The Philadelphia Phillies have continued to strengthen their organizational depth by signing veteran infielder Luke Ritter to a minor-league contract on June 14 and assigning him to Double-A, according to the MLB transactions log.
Ritter, originally drafted by the New York Mets in the seventh round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of Wichita State, spent several years in the Mets’ farm system from 2019 through 2025 before moving on to brief stints with multiple organizations.
He signed with the Los Angeles Angels in January but was released at the end of spring training, later joining the Detroit Tigers in April before being let go again in early June.
Now with Philadelphia, Ritter will start at the Double-A level as he looks to reestablish himself. The 29-year-old infielder has primarily played at Triple-A in recent seasons and brings defensive versatility, with experience at second base, third base, and first base.
Offensively, Ritter has shown mixed results in 2026, hitting just .153 in limited action with Toledo.
However, he posted stronger numbers in previous years, including a .225 average with 11 home runs and 40 RBIs in Syracuse and a standout .257 season with 26 homers and 93 RBIs the year before that. Despite his production in the minors, he has yet to make his Major League debut.
The move comes as the Phillies continue to evaluate roster depth while competing in a tight playoff race.
While Philadelphia is also expected to explore outfield upgrades ahead of the August 3 trade deadline—especially with Adolis García expected to miss significant time—the addition of Ritter provides extra infield insurance for the system.
The Phillies recently dropped a 4-0 series finale to the Milwaukee Brewers, falling to 38-33 on the season and holding onto the second National League Wild Card spot.
Cristopher Sánchez struggled in the loss, allowing four runs over 5.2 innings and admitting afterward that he didn’t have his usual command or energy on the mound.
