Phillies

Aidan Miller Injury Update Sounds Like Something the Sixers PR Staff Wrote

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Jun 3rd, 2026 · 12:48 PM EDT

---

The Phillies shared an update on Aidan Miller, who has been dealing with a back issue for months:

Phillies infielder Aidan Miller has been diagnosed with discogenic pain and facet inflammation in the lumbar spine. Due to recurrence of low back pain when returning to baseball activities, he was seen by spine specialists over the last couple of weeks. The specialists were in agreement that the recommended course of treatment is a minimally invasive procedure called a radiofrequency ablation of the facet joints. Miller will have the procedure performed this Friday, June 5. He will rest for one week after the procedure and then return to his rehabilitation with the goal to return to game activity in six to eight weeks.

What’s going on here? Does Aidan Miller play for the Sixers now? What the hell is “discogenic pain and facet inflammation” anyway?

<Googling furiously>

According to Orthobullets.com, this pain “originates from a damaged or degenerative intervertebral disc, while facet inflammation (facet syndrome) affects the small, stabilizing joints at the back of the spine.”

Sounds really shitty!

As for “radiofrequency ablation of the facet joints,” that is, according to the Mayo Clinic, an “outpatient procedure that uses thermal energy to block medial branch nerves from transmitting chronic neck and back pain signals to the brain.”

All I know is that this sounds very Markelle Fultzian. Promising young player with a mysterious and seemingly non-linear injury. What’s next – Aidan Miller shooting hoops while laying on his back? Hopefully he remembers how to swing a bat 6 to 8 weeks from now.

Here’s hoping the treatment works. Fingers crossed.