Once a consensus Top-20 prospect in all of baseball, outfielder Dylan Carlson has seen his journey take another unexpected turn. The Chicago Cubs officially released the 27-year-old from his minor league contract on May 4, according to his transactions log, just weeks after he was designated for assignment following a brief three-game stint with the big league club in April.

Carlson's story is one of early promise meeting the harsh realities of professional baseball. Back in 2021, he was a rising star with the St. Louis Cardinals, finishing third in National League Rookie of the Year voting. That season, he showcased his potential by launching 18 home runs and slashing .266/.343/.437 over 149 games. The future looked bright for the first-round pick from the 2017 MLB Draft, who had even participated in the 2019 Futures Game.

But the road got rocky. After struggling to maintain that early success, the Cardinals traded Carlson to the Tampa Bay Rays in July 2024. He spent last season bouncing between the majors and Triple-A with the Baltimore Orioles, never quite recapturing his rookie form.

When Carlson signed a minor league deal with the Cubs this past January, it seemed like a fresh start in familiar territory—the same NL Central division where his career first took flight. And for a moment, the comeback story wrote itself. During spring training, Carlson turned heads in the Grapefruit League, slashing an impressive .298/.421/.404 with one home run and five RBIs in 20 games. That performance earned him a spot on the Cubs' Opening Day roster.

However, the regular season told a different tale. Playing time was scarce—his only start came in the second game of a doubleheader, with two other appearances off the bench. In total, he went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts before being designated for assignment on April 10. Even a demotion to Triple-A Iowa couldn't spark a turnaround; Carlson managed just a .175 average (7-for-40) with two homers and six RBIs over 10 games.

Now at 27, Carlson still has time on his side. Whether he catches on with another MLB organization or explores opportunities abroad, his raw talent remains undeniable. For Cubs fans and baseball observers alike, it's a reminder that even the most promising prospects can face unexpected detours—and that the journey is rarely a straight line.