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I’m Excited for the Young Phillies, and You Should Be Too
By Luke Arcaini
Published:
The Phillies have been plagued with top-heavy farm systems for way too many years.
For one of the first times in a really long time, the Phillies will have an influx of youth flying through the pros this season. It’s not the entire team. In fact, it’s just a couple of positions; but that feels like an overhaul compared to previous years.
MLB Pipeline released their updated prospect rankings heading into 2026, and the Phillies have three players in the Top 55. IT’s Aidan Miller at 23, Andrew Painter at 28, and Justin Crawford at 53. Gage Wood is listed as a prospect that could break into the Top 100 the soonest. They have a power-hitting left-handed corner outfielder that could make an impact. There’s some Phillies future that we will see in 2026, and I’m excited about it.
Aidan Miller
Ranked as the top prospect in the Phillies organization, Miller has flown up the ranks since the Phillies selected him out of J.W. Mitchell High School with the 27th pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. The 21-year-old, versatile infielder logged an .825 OPS across Double and Triple-A last year, stealing 59 bases in 116 games.
Miller won’t be up on Opening Day. But there is a serious chance he’s on this roster at some point in 2026. The Phillies could try and trade Alec Bohm at the trade deadline on August 3rd and try to get something for him before he walks in free agency following this season. The Phillies could debate testing out Miller in the outfield a bit during spring training. All options are on the table for a prospect like this.
Why should you be excited for Aidan Miller?
Because what’s not to be excited about a highly-ranked infield prospect that can field, hit, and run at an above-average level? Aidan Miller is going to be the future. His game says it. The Phillies have had him #2 on their do-not-trade list, only behind Painter, for a reason. You don’t trade special prospects, especially in a top-heavy farm system that’s trying to change that.
Andrew Painter
Andrew Painter didn’t have a great 2025 season, there’s no doubt about it. He logged a 5.65 ERA in 22 starts at Triple-A in his first full year back from Tommy John surgery. What frustrates me is a portion of a fanbase that’s already given up on the 22-year-old.
Painter is a special, special pitcher. If you ask any scout around baseball, that’s their answer. His stuff is electric. Was it electric during his comeback? Not like it was in the past. But it was starting to get there at the end of ’25. The Phillies were working through things with Painter all season. It was a slow process. You have to come back from Tommy John the right way, and that’s the process the Phillies took.
Why should you be excited for Andrew Painter?
Because this is the best pitching prospect the Phillies have had since Aaron Nola, and Nola’s had a pretty good Phillies career, to say the least. If I ask you to do one thing, it’s to not even think about giving up on Painter after a year of recovery and going through the process of getting back to 100%. Painter is going to pitch valuable innings for the Phillies in 2026, and will most likely be on their Opening Day roster slotted into the back end of the rotation.
Justin Crawford
The prospect that you’ll see the most of this year. Crawford is going to get the chance to play every day in centerfield. He’s earned the right. He’s raked the ball as a contact hitter the last three years in the minors. 2026 will be his time to shine in the majors in a position that has haunted the Phillies since Shane Victorino left.
Crawford has not posted an OPS over a full season that’s under .800 since 2022. He posted a .411 OBP in 112 games at Triple-A last year. The organization, after some comments in the past about Crawford’s ability to play centerfield, will let him be the frontrunner for the position in a month, and that says a lot about his growth.
“From everybody I’ve talked to, the makeup is really good, the intangibles are really good,” Rob Thomson said to reporters at Citizens Bank Park last week. “If (Crawford) makes the club, we’re going to let him go. We’re going to let him play. And hopefully he’ll have some success…and we think he will.”
Why should you be excited for Justin Crawford?
Because the Phillies have their centerfielder. Miller and Painter have been the two prospects that everybody has raved about the last few years. Crawford has put his head down, went to work year after year, and has only continued to get better. He plays a gritty way. Extra 90s, slap-hitting all over the field. Philadelphia is going to love this kid.
During an offseason of “the Phillies are running it back,” the youth movement is instilling some life into this roster. Guys like Otto Kemp and Gabriel Rincones Jr will have chances as well. Kemp is assumed to be Brandon Marsh’s platoon partner in left field as of now. Rincones Jr will have a chance to compete for a bench spot as a power-hitting lefty. Gage Wood could be one of the fastest risers through the minors in all of baseball and bring his electricity out of the bullpen to CBP at some point this season. Moises Chace will be making his return from Tommy John surgery at some point in 2026.
There are reasons to be down on the Phillies, I understand. But there’s an even bigger reason to be excited, and that’s because of the youth movement that’s coming.
Luke Arcaini writes about the Phillies for Crossing Broad, covers the Phillies for FOX Sports The Gambler, and co-hosts "Phillies Digest" on YouTube. The wave is the worst thing in all of sports. Contact: lukearcaini8@gmail.com