Dylan Carlson Bio
Dylan James Carlson is an American professional baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals, the Tampa Bay Rays, and the Baltimore Orioles. Selected by the Cardinals in the first round of the 2016 MLB draft, Carlson became one of the top prospects in baseball before reaching the major leagues in 2020.
Carlson became the Cardinals’ starting right fielder in 2021 and finished as a finalist for the National League Rookie of the Year Award. After several seasons in St. Louis, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2024 and later signed with the Baltimore Orioles in 2025 before returning to free agency.
Early Life and Background
Dylan James Carlson was born on October 23, 1998. He grew up in a baseball family and attended Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove, California, where he played under his father, Jeff, who coached the program. He was teammates at the school with several future professional players, including Nick Madrigal, Rowdy Tellez, Dom Nunez, and Derek Hill.
Carlson began playing on the varsity team as a 14-year-old freshman, showing advanced skills at a young age. As a senior, he batted .407 with nine home runs and 40 runs batted in across 36 games and also pitched to a 6-0 record with a 1.44 earned run average. Those performances helped establish him as one of the top high school position players in the country.
Path to Baseball
Although he was not named a Top 200 prospect for the 2016 MLB draft by MLB.com, Carlson was still selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round with the 33rd overall pick. He rescinded his college commitment to Cal State Fullerton and signed with the Cardinals for a $1.35 million bonus, $550,500 under the assigned slot value.
Carlson made his professional debut that same year with the Gulf Coast League Cardinals, batting .251 with three home runs and 22 runs batted in over 50 games. The strong foundation from high school and his willingness to begin his career in the rookie leagues gave him a clear development path through the Cardinals’ farm system.
Dylan Carlson Career
Early Career (2017-2019)
Carlson spent the 2017 season with the Peoria Chiefs, where he slashed .240/.342/.347 with seven home runs and 42 runs batted in across 115 games. He opened the 2018 season back with Peoria, and after batting .234 with two home runs and nine runs batted in over 13 games, was promoted to the Palm Beach Cardinals. He finished 2018 with Palm Beach, slashing .247/.345/.386 with nine home runs and 53 runs batted in over 99 games.
Carlson began the 2019 season with the Springfield Cardinals and was named a Texas League All-Star. He also participated in the Texas League Home Run Derby and represented the Cardinals in the 2019 All-Star Futures Game alongside Nolan Gorman. After slashing .281/.364/.518 with 21 home runs, 59 runs batted in, and 18 stolen bases over 108 games with Springfield, he was promoted to the Memphis Redbirds in August and was named the Texas League Player of the Year. Over 126 total games between Springfield and Memphis, he slashed .292/.372/.542 with 26 home runs, 68 runs batted in, and 20 stolen bases.
MLB Debut and Cardinals Breakthrough (2020-2021)
The Cardinals promoted Carlson to the major leagues on August 15, 2020, and he made his MLB debut that day against the Chicago White Sox. He hit his first career home run on August 23, 2020, and finished that shortened season slashing .200/.252/.364 with three home runs and 16 runs batted in over 35 games.
Carlson returned in 2021 as St. Louis’ starting center fielder, taking over for the injured Harrison Bader, before moving to right field when Bader returned. On April 7, 2021, he hit his first career grand slam against Zach Pop of the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park. He finished the 2021 season with 542 at-bats over 149 games, slashing .266/.343/.437 with 18 home runs, 65 runs batted in, and 31 doubles. He was a finalist for the National League Rookie of the Year Award alongside Jonathan India and Trevor Rogers.
Later Cardinals Years (2022-2024)
Carlson opened the 2022 season as the Cardinals’ starting right fielder. He hit the final home run of a record-tying four consecutive homers by teammates on July 2, 2022, the 11th such occurrence in major league history. At Citizens Bank Park, Nolan Arenado, Nolan Gorman, Juan Yepez, and Carlson all homered off Phillies starter Kyle Gibson with two outs in the first inning, marking the first time the Cardinals had accomplished the feat. Over 432 at-bats in 128 games, he slashed .236/.316/.380 with eight home runs, 42 runs batted in, and 30 doubles.
In 2023, Carlson played in 76 games, batting .219/.318/.333 with five home runs, 27 runs batted in, and three stolen bases, before a left oblique strain and left ankle injury ended his season. He underwent season-ending surgery on his left ankle. Carlson led the team in 2024 Spring Training with three home runs and 13 runs batted in before a collision in the outfield with Jordan Walker led to a left shoulder injury. In 59 games for the Cardinals, he batted .198/.275/.240 with no home runs and 11 runs batted in.
Tampa Bay Rays Era (2024)
On July 30, 2024, the Cardinals traded Carlson to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Shawn Armstrong. In 37 games for Tampa Bay, he slashed .219/.299/.316 with three home runs, 14 runs batted in, and two stolen bases. On November 22, the Rays non-tendered Carlson, making him a free agent.
Baltimore Orioles Era (2025)
On January 27, 2025, Carlson signed a one-year, $975,000 contract with the Baltimore Orioles. He was optioned to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides to begin the season, then was called up on March 31, following an injury to Colton Cowser, and again on April 26 when former Cardinals teammate Tyler O’Neill went on the injured list. Carlson made 83 total appearances for the Orioles during the regular season, batting .203/.278/.336 with six home runs, 20 runs batted in, and three stolen bases. On November 6, he was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Norfolk, becoming a free agent the same day.
Driving Style and Strengths
Carlson is recognized as a balanced outfielder who combines contact hitting with developing power, a profile that gave him a long track as a top prospect. He has shown the ability to play all three outfield spots, and he has recorded seasons with double-digit home runs and stolen bases. His plate discipline has been a hallmark, with on-base percentages around or above .300 in his strongest years.
Notable Events and Milestones
Carlson’s signature moment came on July 2, 2022, when he hit the record-tying fourth consecutive home run in the first inning at Citizens Bank Park, a historic first for the Cardinals. He also hit his first career grand slam in 2021 against the Miami Marlins, and he finished that year as a National League Rookie of the Year finalist. His rapid rise from a 33rd overall pick to a starting outfielder underscored his importance to the Cardinals’ outfield plans for several seasons.
Dylan Carlson Career Wins
As a position player, Dylan Carlson’s statistical highlights are tracked through batting and fielding production rather than traditional win totals. Across his major league seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, and Baltimore Orioles, he contributed 40 career home runs and more than 180 runs batted in while playing all three outfield positions.
MLB Highlights
Carlson’s strongest major league season came in 2021, when he hit 18 home runs, drove in 65 runs, and posted a .266/.343/.437 slash line across 149 games. He also recorded 31 doubles that year and earned a finalist spot for the National League Rookie of the Year Award. His 2019 minor league season was his most productive, when he combined for 26 home runs, 68 runs batted in, and 20 stolen bases between Springfield and Memphis.
Other Wins and Performances
In the minor leagues, Carlson was named a Texas League All-Star in 2019, won the Texas League Home Run Derby, and was selected the Texas League Player of the Year. He also represented the Cardinals in the 2019 All-Star Futures Game alongside Nolan Gorman, capping a fast climb through the farm system that began with the Gulf Coast League Cardinals in 2016.
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Dylan Carlson Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Carlson comes from a baseball family shaped by his father, Jeff Carlson, who coached him at Elk Grove High School. His younger brother, Tanner Carlson, played college baseball for the Texas Longhorns and the Long Beach State Dirtbags, continuing the family’s involvement in the sport at a high level.
Personal Life
Carlson’s mother, Caryn Carlson, is a breast cancer survivor. Details about Carlson’s own marital status, spouse, and children have not been publicly confirmed. He is American by nationality and has spent his professional career in the United States.
2025 Season Performance
Dylan Carlson entered 2025 with the Baltimore Orioles after signing a one-year, $975,000 contract in January. He began the year with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides before being called up to the majors on March 31, following an injury to Colton Cowser. He was optioned and recalled again on April 26 when Tyler O’Neill went on the injured list, splitting his season between Norfolk and Baltimore.
Across 83 appearances with the Orioles, Carlson batted .203/.278/.336 with six home runs, 20 runs batted in, and three stolen bases. His role was primarily as a depth outfielder behind an established Baltimore outfield group, and he provided left-handed pop off the bench when called upon.
On November 6, the Orioles removed Carlson from the 40-man roster and sent him outright to Norfolk, making him a free agent the same day. As a free agent following the 2025 season, Carlson is positioned to pursue a new opportunity heading into 2026, with experience as a starting outfielder and a track record of postseason-caliber production in his strongest seasons.