Dylan Carlson Bio
Dylan James Carlson is an American professional baseball outfielder. Born on October 23, 1998, Carlson has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Baltimore Orioles, and Chicago Cubs. He was selected by the Cardinals in the first round of the 2016 MLB draft and became one of the top prospects in baseball before reaching the majors in 2020. He is currently in the Philadelphia Phillies organization.
After taking over as the Cardinals’ everyday outfielder in 2021, Carlson finished as a finalist for the National League Rookie of the Year Award. He later bounced between several organizations and now continues his career in the minor league system of the Phillies.
Early Life and Background
Dylan James Carlson was raised in Elk Grove, California, where he attended Elk Grove High School. He grew up in a baseball household and played for the school’s varsity team as a 14-year-old freshman, an unusually early promotion that hinted at his advanced development. His father, Jeff Carlson, was his high school coach and helped shape his early approach to the game.
Carlson starred for Elk Grove alongside several players who would also reach the major leagues, including Nick Madrigal, Rowdy Tellez, Dom Núñez, and Derek Hill. As a senior, he batted .407 with nine home runs and 40 runs batted in (RBIs) across 36 games, while also pitching to a 6–0 record with a 1.44 earned run average (ERA). Despite growing up in California, he became a fan of the New York Yankees at age 10, modeling his style after his favorite player, Derek Jeter.
Path to Baseball
Carlson entered the 2016 MLB draft without being named a Top 200 prospect by MLB.com, yet the St. Louis Cardinals selected him in the first round with the 33rd overall pick. He turned down a college commitment to Cal State Fullerton and signed for $1.35 million, a sum $550,500 under the assigned slot value. That decision launched his professional career.
He made his professional debut that same year with the Gulf Coast League Cardinals, batting .251 with three home runs and 22 RBIs in 50 games. The Cardinals moved him quickly through the lower levels, and by 2019, he had reached Triple-A Memphis and was named the Texas League Player of the Year after a season in which he posted 26 home runs, 68 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases across two levels.
Dylan Carlson Career
Early Career (2016–2019)
Carlson spent his first full professional season with the Peoria Chiefs in 2017, hitting .240 with seven home runs and 42 RBIs in 115 games. The following year, he started at Peoria before a quick promotion to the Palm Beach Cardinals, where he batted .247 with nine home runs and 53 RBIs. His steady advancement through the system positioned him as one of the organization’s most promising young position players.
In 2019, Carlson opened the year with the Springfield Cardinals and was named a Texas League All-Star. He participated in the All-Star Futures Game alongside fellow Cardinals prospect Nolan Gorman. After slashing .281/.364/.518 with 21 home runs at Springfield, he was promoted to Memphis, where he batted .361 in 18 games to close the year.
St. Louis Cardinals Breakthrough (2020–2024)
The Cardinals promoted Carlson to the major leagues on August 15, 2020, and he debuted that day against the Chicago White Sox. He hit his first career home run on August 23 and finished the shortened season with three home runs and 16 RBIs over 35 games. The following spring, he earned a larger role.
Carlson opened 2021 as St. Louis’ starting center fielder while Harrison Bader recovered from injury and shifted to right field once Bader returned. On April 7, 2021, he hit his first career grand slam against the Miami Marlins’ Zach Pop. He finished the year with 18 home runs, 65 RBIs, and 31 doubles across 149 games, earning a spot as a finalist for the National League Rookie of the Year Award alongside Jonathan India and Trevor Rogers.
In 2022, Carlson became the club’s primary right fielder, though a hamstring injury cost him time in late May. On July 2, 2022, he hit the fourth of four consecutive home runs by the Cardinals in the first inning off Philadelphia’s Kyle Gibson, tying a major league record. He also dealt with a thumb sprain in September before finishing with eight home runs and 42 RBIs in 128 games.
Carlson’s production dipped in 2023, when he played only 76 games and batted .219 with five home runs. A left oblique strain and ankle injury eventually led to season-ending ankle surgery in September. The struggles continued into 2024, when a preseason collision with Jordan Walker led to shoulder, hip, and ankle injuries, limiting him to 59 games and a .198 average with the Cardinals.
Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles (2024–2025)
On July 30, 2024, the Cardinals traded Carlson to the Tampa Bay Rays for relief pitcher Shawn Armstrong. In 37 games with Tampa Bay, he batted .219 with three home runs and 14 RBIs. The Rays non-tendered him after the season, making him a free agent.
Carlson signed a one-year, $975,000 contract with the Baltimore Orioles on January 27, 2025. He began the year at Triple-A Norfolk before being recalled in late March following an injury to Colton Cowser, and again in late April when Tyler O’Neill went on the injured list. He appeared in 83 games for Baltimore, batting .203 with six home runs and 20 RBIs, before being removed from the 40-man roster in November and becoming a free agent.
Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies Era (2026)
Carlson signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs on January 26, 2026, and made the team’s Opening Day roster a few weeks later. After going 0-for-4 in three games, he was designated for assignment on April 10, cleared waivers, and elected free agency shortly after. He re-signed with the Cubs on a minor league deal in April before being released in May.
On May 12, 2026, Carlson signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, joining their organization in search of another opportunity. Through the early portion of the year, his MLB totals stood at a .233 batting average, 43 home runs, and 195 RBIs.
Notable Events and Milestones
Carlson’s most memorable big-league moment came on July 2, 2022, when he capped four straight home runs by the Cardinals in the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies, a feat that had occurred only 10 other times in major league history. His first career grand slam in April 2021 also marked a personal milestone, signaling his arrival as a run-producing corner outfielder.
Dylan Carlson Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Baseball runs deep in the Carlson family. His father, Jeff Carlson, coached both Dylan and his younger brother, Tanner, at Elk Grove High School. Tanner Carlson later played college baseball for the Texas Longhorns and the Long Beach State Dirtbags. Their mother, Caryn Carlson, is a breast cancer survivor.
Personal Life
Carlson grew up a New York Yankees fan in California, citing Derek Jeter as his favorite player during his childhood. He remains connected to his family and to the Sacramento-area baseball community that produced his early development.
2025 Season Performance
Carlson opened 2025 with the Baltimore Orioles organization after signing a one-year, $975,000 deal in late January. He began the year at Triple-A Norfolk before being promoted in late March following an injury to Colton Cowser. He was optioned and recalled again in late April when Tyler O’Neill landed on the injured list.
In 83 regular-season appearances with the Orioles, Carlson batted .203 with a .278 on-base percentage, six home runs, 20 RBIs, and three stolen bases. He was removed from the 40-man roster on November 6, 2025, and sent outright to Norfolk before electing free agency the same day.
