TAMPA — The Yankees cut ties with an offspring of organizational royalty Monday when they released Preston Mattingly.
The son of Yankees icon and Dodgers manager Don Mattingly was in camp working out with Trenton (Double-A).
Signed to a minor-league deal in January, the hope was that the 24-year-old converted outfielder could improve his hitting enough to reach the potential the Dodgers saw in him when they selected him in the first round (31st overall) of the 2006 draft.
After batting .290 for the Gulf Coast Dodgers (Rookie League) in 2006, Preston Mattingly never hit above .238 in his next five minor league seasons.
Playing for two Single-A teams last summer, he batted .232.
The Dodgers dealt Preston Mattingly to the Indians in 2010 and released him last April. He re-signed with the Dodgers and signed with the Yankees early this year.
Preston Mattingly’s brother, Tyler was a 42nd round pick of the Yankees in 2003 and retired after 24 games in the GCL.