The Philadelphia Phillies' farm system, once touted as a powerhouse, has taken a hit in the latest MLB.com rankings of the top 100 prospects. Behind only 14 teams with at least four players on the list, three young Phillies stand out: infielder Aidan Miller, pitcher Andrew Painter, and shortstop J.P. Crawford.
In a surprising twist, Miller has been named the best prospect in the Phillies' system, beating out Painter for the top spot. The 21-year-old infielder showed impressive numbers in his minor league campaign, slashing .264/.392/.433 with 59 stolen bases in 2025. However, it's worth noting that Painter, the once-coveted pitching phenom, had a lackluster 2025 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023. Despite struggling to find his rhythm, Painter still boasted an impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio of 11.46.
Crawford, another Phillies prospect with a major league-ready spot ahead of him, rounds out the trio at 53rd on the list. The 22-year-old infielder hit .311 in Triple-A, demonstrating solid defensive skills and a strong bat. Crawford's chances of breaking camp as a starter or corner outfielder are good, making him a player to watch in the coming season.
Notably absent from the MLB.com rankings is last year's first-round draft pick Gage Wood, who could be on a fast track to the majors. Aroon Escobar did land on the site's list of top 10 second base prospects, but he missed out on making the overall top 100. Other notable prospects like Dante Nori and Gabriel Rincones will also be in spring training next month, with expected rankings among the franchise's top 10 when the season begins.
With Painter no longer holding the title of top prospect in the Phillies' system, it raises questions about how the team will approach his development moving forward. Can he regain his footing after a disappointing 2025 campaign? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: Miller and Crawford are making a strong case for themselves as potential big league contributors.
In a surprising twist, Miller has been named the best prospect in the Phillies' system, beating out Painter for the top spot. The 21-year-old infielder showed impressive numbers in his minor league campaign, slashing .264/.392/.433 with 59 stolen bases in 2025. However, it's worth noting that Painter, the once-coveted pitching phenom, had a lackluster 2025 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023. Despite struggling to find his rhythm, Painter still boasted an impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio of 11.46.
Crawford, another Phillies prospect with a major league-ready spot ahead of him, rounds out the trio at 53rd on the list. The 22-year-old infielder hit .311 in Triple-A, demonstrating solid defensive skills and a strong bat. Crawford's chances of breaking camp as a starter or corner outfielder are good, making him a player to watch in the coming season.
Notably absent from the MLB.com rankings is last year's first-round draft pick Gage Wood, who could be on a fast track to the majors. Aroon Escobar did land on the site's list of top 10 second base prospects, but he missed out on making the overall top 100. Other notable prospects like Dante Nori and Gabriel Rincones will also be in spring training next month, with expected rankings among the franchise's top 10 when the season begins.
With Painter no longer holding the title of top prospect in the Phillies' system, it raises questions about how the team will approach his development moving forward. Can he regain his footing after a disappointing 2025 campaign? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: Miller and Crawford are making a strong case for themselves as potential big league contributors.