Outrighted off the MLB roster by the Los Angeles Angels in October, infielder and former top prospect Carter Kieboom elected free agency back then. Then, in mid-January, the Cleveland Guardians signed him to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.
The Guardians took a chance on the draft bust because, despite only logging eight plate appearances for the Angels in 2025, he hit a very solid .319/.368/.449 with nine homers and 11 stolen bases in 93 games for Triple-A Salt Lake. Additionally, he had some post-hype appeal, which gave Cleveland some hope of turning his career around.
Unfortunately, the Kieboom spring training was not a particularly successful one, and the Guardians sent him packing in a Saturday trade.
“Guardians have traded infielder Carter Kieboom to the Phillies for cash considerations. He will report to the Phillies’ minor league camp. Kieboom hit .160 (4 for 25) with one homer and five RBI in 16 games this spring,” team insider Paul Hoynes posted on X.
Guardians have traded infielder Carter Kieboom to the Phillies for cash considerations. He will report to the Phillies' minor league camp. Kieboom hit .160 (4 for 25) with one homer and five RBI in 16 games this spring.
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— paul hoynes (@hoynsie) March 21, 2026
Kieboom had a chance to win a roster spot in Cleveland, but he needed an explosive spring for the organization to consider giving him a bench spot. It’s safe to say that didn’t happen.
Kieboom struggled to take walks, highlighted by his 3.8 percent rate, and also struck out at an alarming 34.6 percent rate. In other words, pitchers did what they wanted against him, and he couldn’t adjust.
The Washington Nationals took Kieboom in the first round of the 2016 MLB Draft, with big hopes of pairing him with the likes of Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon, Juan Soto, and other up-and-coming members of the Nats’ core that won the World Series title in 2019.
Kieboom didn’t pan out, and currently owns a career 64 wRC+ and a negative fWAR of -2.1 in 136 games and 516 plate appearances. It happens sometimes, because baseball is highly unpredictable.
Some of these prospects light the world on fire upon arrival, while others take a year or two. You also have the late bloomers, and then the ones who flame out and don’t live up to the hype.
Now, he will try to make the Phillies, and Cleveland gets some cash to maneuver. Both teams and the rest of the league are slowly finalizing their rosters ahead of the opening week of baseball.
NEXT: Guardians Send Pitcher To Triple-A After Struggles
