Andrew Painter, Justin Crawford, and Aidan Miller all have solid chances at landing spots on the Phillies roster to begin 2026

The Phillies’ 2025 lineup was experienced, to put it nicely. According to Baseball Reference, their offense averaged 30.3 years old, making them the second-oldest group in the majors trailing only the World Series bound Los Angeles Dodgers.

That number includes veterans like J.T. Realmuto (34), Nick Castellanos (33), Bryce Harper (32), Kyle Schwarber (32), Trea Turner (32), and Harrison Bader (31). It was a veteran-heavy roster that still produced, but one that clearly needs an infusion of youth.

Dave Dombrowski made it clear last week that change is coming.

“We have some young players that we’re going to mesh into our club,” Dombrowski said. “I’m not declaring that anybody has a job, but we’re really open minded about who could make it out of Spring Training.”

The players he’s talking about are Justin Crawford, Andrew Painter, and Aidan Miller. All three rank among MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects and all three have a real chance to make the 2026 roster.

Justin Crawford: Ready for the Big Leagues

Crawford, 21, looks like the next man up. He hit .334 with seven homers, 47 RBIs, 46 stolen bases, and an .863 OPS across 112 games for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The Phillies nearly promoted him last summer, but the late addition of Harrison Bader and the resurgence of Brandon Marsh kept him in the minors.

Now, the path is clear. With Nick Castellanos and Max Kepler not expected to return, Crawford will have a chance to earn a starting job in left field.

“He just needs to go to camp and do what he’s been doing,” Dombrowski said. “I don’t expect him to carry the club early, but I also don’t think it will be too much for him.”

Crawford has nothing left to prove in the minors. He’s fast, he’s confident, and he’s ready.

Andrew Painter: The Future Ace…?

The Phillies had high hopes for Andrew Painter in 2025, but it was unrealistic to expect dominance in his first season back from Tommy John surgery. Painter still flashed his trademark velocity, touching 100 miles per hour, and showed glimpses of the potential that made him the organization’s top prospect.

“He still has quality stuff,” Dombrowski said. “He just needs better command. That’s usually the last thing that comes back after Tommy John.”

The rotation could use him. Zack Wheeler is recovering from thoracic outlet surgery and may not be ready for Opening Day. Ranger Suárez is a free agent and may not return. That leaves Aaron Nola, Jesús Luzardo, Cristopher Sánchez, and Taijuan Walker as the only established arms.

Painter will enter camp with a chance to win a spot, and if he looks sharp, he could finally deliver on the ace potential everyone saw before the injury.

Aidan Miller: The Wild Card

Aidan Miller, 21, might be the most intriguing of the group. The Phillies already have Trea Turner, Bryson Stott, and Alec Bohm locked into the infield, but Miller’s offensive ceiling is forcing his way into the conversation.

He hit .264 with 14 home runs, 42 RBIs, and 59 stolen bases between Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley. After a slow stretch in the middle of the season, he closed out the year on fire, hitting .356 with a 1.088 OPS over his final 39 games.

“He can play shortstop,” Dombrowski said. “But we need to make sure he’s properly prepared if he’s going to move to another position. That’s a conversation we’re still having.”

If the Phillies decide to move on from Alec Bohm, Miller could slide into the everyday role at third base. He’s athletic, he can hit for power, and he brings an energy that could help reset the infield for the long haul.

Here are the Phillies prospects who are Rule 5 Draft eligible in 2025

The Phillies Surprising Youth Movement Is Coming

The Phillies don’t need to tear down their roster, but they do need to evolve. Veterans like Harper, Turner, and Schwarber will remain the core. Realmuto might re-sign, and the front office has interest in keeping Bader.

It goes without saying that the Phillies need to re-sign JT Realmuto by any means necessary

What the team truly needs is an injection of young, athletic talent.

• Justin Crawford looks like the next outfielder of the future.
• Andrew Painter could soon headline the rotation.
• Aidan Miller might be the long-term answer on the infield.

(Don’t forget Otto Kemp)

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