Former Hot Shot Rookie DFA'd For 3rd Time In 3 Weeks

He came up in 2019 as a much-ballyhooed prospect in the Cleveland outfield, but now, just three years later, 27-year-old Oscar Mercado has been subjected to his 3rd DFA in three weeks. 

Oscar Mercado deserves better

— George Valera Stan 🏄‍♂️ (@Valeradynasty) July 11, 2022

Mercado started the 2022 season with the Guardians, playing fairly regularly, but struggled to keep his average above the Mendoza line. When the team designated him for assignment the first time, on June 21, he was hitting .202 with a .604 OPS.  

He was then claimed by the Philadelphia Phillies, only to be DFA'd just a few days later. The Guardians re-claimed him and brought him back on July 4th. He only got in a handful of at-bats over the next five games, and now, he's been DFA'd once again.

No telling what's next for the former top prospect. 

In return, the Guardians called up another of baseball's top outfield prospects from several years ago, Alex Call. He was a 3rd-round pick of the Chicago White Sox in 2017. He finally made his major league debut Monday night, going 0-for-1 in Cleveland's 8-4 win over his former team, the White Sox.

Photo Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports