Farm Report: Phillies prospects are heating up in August

For the most part, the Philadelphia Phillies kept the farm in tact at the MLB Trade Deadline.

Sure, they got Jhoan Durán, but it cost them big-time prospects Eduardo Tait and Mick Abel. They also moved Hendry Mendez and Geremy Viloria to land Harrison Bader.

Still, the top prospects on the farm remained within the organization and a large handful of them have been red hot heading into September.

Aidan Miller, SS, Double-A Reading — No. 2 prospect (MLB No. 48)

The 2023 first-rounder started slow, hitting just .222 through July. But since the calendar flipped to August, Miller has been a machine, hitting .338 with 12 extra-base hits and a .999 OPS. Add in 47 steals on 55 attempts, and you’ve got one of the most dynamic players in Double-A. Miller is one of only two players at that level with 30+ extra-base hits and 40+ steals this year.

Justin Crawford, OF, Triple-A Lehigh Valley — No. 3 prospect (MLB No. 68)

Crawford is doing what he always does. He’s batting .352/.403/.479 this month with eight multi-hit games. Sure, the strikeout-to-walk ratio in August is a little lopsided (18 K’s to 6 BB’s), but he’s making harder contact. He’s already up to 41 stolen bases, which solidifies his third straight 40-steal season. With the way he’s trending, you have to wonder if a 2025 September cameo is possible, or if the Phils slow-play it until 2026.

Caleb Ricketts, C, Double-A Reading — No. 22 prospect

Ricketts has been raking since coming back from injury. In August, he’s slashing .351/.383/.526, with hits in 12 of his last 13 games. The 6’3” lefty bat is especially tough on righties, with 20 extra-base hits in 160 ABs. Eduardo Tait might be gone, but Ricketts is quietly making his case as a future depth piece at catcher.

Mavis Graves, LHP, High-A Jersey Shore — No. 25 prospect

The turnaround here is dramatic. Graves opened the year with a 6.70 ERA in 13 starts, walking too many and giving up rockets all over the yard. In his last six outings, Graves holds a 0.67 ERA in 27 innings with 30 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting just .220 on balls in play during that stretch, compared to .386 earlier. This is what the Phillies envisioned when they drafted him: swing-and-miss stuff paired with actual command.

Griff McGarry, RHP, Double-A Reading — Not ranked

At 26, McGarry isn’t exactly a “prospect” anymore, but he’s suddenly dominating. He was named Eastern League Player of the Week after throwing six shutout innings with 12 strikeouts on Aug. 13. Across his last three starts, McGarry has posted 15 innings, 27 K’s, three runs allowed. He’s finally keeping the ball in the yard, with only three homers allowed in 56.1 innings this season.

The Phillies know September Call-Ups are Coming…

Rosters expand soon, but the Phillies’ bullpen shuffle over the last few months by adding Durán, bringing in Robertson, and reinstating Jose Alvarado, leaves very little room for new blood. Most of these guys are more “file away for 2026” names than instant contributors.

Still, it’s encouraging to see life in the system after the Deadline sell-off. Crawford is knocking on the door. Miller looks like the future at short if Stott ever shifts full-time to second. And if Graves’ breakout is real, that’s another legit lefty arm in the pipeline.

The farm isn’t empty. It’s just heating up when it matters.

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