On The Farm: Phillies’ prospects Aidan Miller, Justin Crawford heat up as deadline decisions loom

It’s trade deadline season, and Phillies prospects are suddenly front and center. With just two weeks until July 31, the front office is evaluating which young pieces are untouchable and which could be packaged to fix the bullpen or outfield.

While top pitching prospect Andrew Painter continues to scuffle, a few recent first-rounders are stepping up at just the right time. Let’s break down the current top 15 Phillies prospects per MLB.com, starting with those making the most noise.

A reminder to the Phillies that contenders make moves while pretenders stand pat

Phillies – Hot on the Farm:

Aidan Miller, SS (No. 2)
The 2023 first-round pick is heating up in Double-A. Miller’s been on base at a .432 clip over his last 10 games and just mashed his eighth homer of the year before the break. His power stroke is starting to show, and with nine walks and nine hits in that stretch, he’s forcing his way into the conversation, especially with teams surely asking about him in trade talks.

Justin Crawford, OF (No. 3)
Crawford’s .331 average in Triple-A has Phillies fans screaming for a call-up. He’s swiped 29 bags in 73 games and has been spraying doubles all over the field. It’s getting harder to justify keeping Max Kepler around when Crawford’s doing this in Allentown.

Eduardo Tait, C (No. 4)
The 18-year-old represented the Phillies at the Futures Game. His year-to-date line—.254/.328/.445 with 31 extra-base hits—looks great for someone who can stick behind the plate. He might be on the way to High-A soon.

Mick Abel, SP (No. 5)
After being sent back down from the majors, Abel responded with six one-hit innings in Triple-A. That confidence looks like it’s back. The Phillies don’t need him just yet, but they might soon.

Aroon Escobar, IF (No. 6)
He jumped from No. 13 to No. 6 in the rankings, and since getting promoted to Jersey Shore, he’s hit in five of his six games. He’s just 20 years old but tracking quickly.

Dante Nori, OF (No. 8)
Nori’s hitting .324 over his last 10 games with two homers in his last three. The 2023 first-round pick is flashing power and speed (22 steals), and a promotion could be on the horizon.

Jean Cabrera, SP (No. 12)
Cabrera’s ERA doesn’t tell the whole story—his .199 BAA over 17 starts in Double-A is elite. The walks (43) are an issue, but he’s keeping hitters off balance.

Seth Johnson, RP (No. 13)
The Phillies’ bullpen is desperate, so Johnson’s been up again—and effective. Three scoreless innings before the break have earned him another look. Can he stick after the team likely adds veteran arms?

Phillies – Struggles on the Farm:

Andrew Painter, SP (No. 1)
Painter’s rough 2025 continues. His ERA is up to 5.01 through 12 starts in Lehigh Valley, with 11 homers allowed and a 1.44 WHIP. He’s struggled to put hitters away and hasn’t cleared five strikeouts in four of his last five starts. A summer call-up now feels unlikely.

Griffin Burkholder, OF (No. 9)
The 2023 second-rounder is stuck in Rookie Ball. He’s hitting just .204 in his last 14 games and has 17 strikeouts in that span. He also recently came off the IL.

Devin Saltiban, 2B (No. 10)
Saltiban, 20, has battled injuries and inconsistency across three levels. His .226 combined average has stalled his momentum.

Gabriel Rincones, OF (No. 11)
Rincones has a .212 average in Triple-A this year and just .222 over his last 10. Once a sleeper breakout pick, he’s fallen off the radar.

Bryan Rincon, SS (No. 14)
Rincon’s been ice cold in Jersey Shore. The 2023 late-rounder is hitting just .167.

Carson DeMartini, 3B (No. 15)
DeMartini looked strong in Jersey Shore, but the bump to Reading hasn’t been smooth. He’s hitting .224 in 28 games at Double-A.

Phillies Injured on the Farm:

Moisés Chace, SP (No. 7)
Chace’s season is officially over—he’s undergoing Tommy John surgery.

The Phillies’ prospect pool remains solid and top-heavy, but it’s at a critical crossroads. With the trade deadline looming, decisions on guys like Crawford, Miller, and Abel are coming. The next two weeks will say a lot about how the front office sees this team’s chances in 2025—and beyond.

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