Mick Abel plummets in MLB Pipeline Top 100 Prospect Rankings, Aidan Miller continues to rise as 5 Phillies’ prospects are featured on the list

The Philadelphia Phillies have five prospects featured in the updated MLB Pipeline Top 100 list. Mick Abel and Aidan Miller both made surprising moves in the latest release – one of which is unfortunately in the wrong direction.

The Phillies have 5 prospects in MLB Pipeline’s Updated Top 100:

• 19: RHP Andrew Painter
• 28: SS Aidan Miller
• 56: OF Justin Crawford
• 89: SS Starlyn Caba
• 94: RHP Mick Abel

-36 Mick Abel, RHP, Phillies (58 to 94)

Mick Abel plummeted in the Top 100 rankings, dropping 36 spots from 58 to 94. In fact, Abel was the biggest fall of the entire list. 

Abel has struggled in Triple A Lehigh Valley all season. Over 13 starts, he’s posted a lowly 2-7 record with a 6.79 ERA and a 1.83 WHIP.

He has failed to allow less than two earned runs in any start dating back to the first of this season on April 7th when he threw just 1.2 innings against Rochester and allow two hits, three runs, (one earned) and four walks. 

Heston Kjerstad takes fellow Top 100 prospect Mick Abel DEEP!

MLB's No. 21 prospect goes the other way for his 16th homer with the Triple-A @NorfolkTides: pic.twitter.com/E6dYuPcjsf

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 22, 2024

You really hate to see it but as the old saying goes, no prospect is untouchable and unfortunately for the Phillies, Mick Abel is now the new poster boy for why that typically is the case. I will say, at only 22 years old, the fast-track Abel was on may have been too much to handle.

No reason to completely abandon Mick, but over the next year, we’re going to have see some type of improvement. Given his age, Abel could be an interesting trade piece for the Phillies ahead of the deadline too.

+17 Aidan Miller, SS/3B, Phillies (45 to 28)

On the year, Miller is batting .245 with a .794 OPS. He has 6 home runs, 31 RBI, and 13 stolen bases over 212 at-bats across Clearwater and Jersey Shore. Miller is still a long ways away from the big leagues but all things considered, he’s someone the Phillies and fans alike should definitely be excited about for the future. 

Justin Crawford (No. 56) 

Phillies 2022 first round draft pick played his way to High-A Jersey Shore last year and is lightning fast. He finished last season slashing .332/.392/.467/.859 with three home runs and 64 RBI. He hit 22 doubles, eight triples and stole 47 bases in 87 games.

This year, Crawford continues to find success in High-A, batting .287 with a .748 OPS. He has five home runs, 34 RBI, and 24 stolen bases. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Crawford make the jump to the Reading Fightin Phils before the end of the year, assuming he’s still with the organization past the MLB Trade Deadline. 

Starlyn Caba (No. 89) 

The 5’10” shortstop from the Dominican Republic is just 18-years old. Caba entered the 2024 season without taking a single at-bat in the U.S., but the organization’s top international get in the 2023 signing period is now with the FCL Phillies and finding success. 

Playing internationally last year, Caba slashed .301/.423/.769 with 40 hits, 17 RBI, 16 stolen bases, and 29 runs scored in 133 at-bats. 

This season, he’s hitting .240 with a .736 OPS. Caba has a homer, 13 RBI and 29 stolen bases while playing very solid defense at shortstop.

No. 5 Phillies prospect Starlyn Caba hit his first professional home run in the first game of the FCL season pic.twitter.com/sCxV305X7x

— Phillies Player Development (@PhilsPlayerDev) May 5, 2024

Andrew Painter (No. 19) 

Painter is expected to be a bonafide starting pitcher that can be a rotations No. 1 or No. 2 but we won’t actually be able to see if that turns out to be something worth celebrating until the 2025 season since the Phillies’ top prospect underwent Tommy John Surgery last Summer.

Painter went 6-2 in the minors with a 1.48 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 109.2 innings while walking just 25 batters.

Andrew Painter goes the distance!

The top-ranked @Phillies prospect strikes out 11 in a 7-inning complete game for the @BlueClaws. pic.twitter.com/HJJ5s7uZG3

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 7, 2022

Painter Update: According to recent reports, Painter is currently throwing 25 pitches two days a week, but is still expected to miss the entire 2024 season. 

(Updated) MLB Pipeline Top 100 List >>

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