With September on the horizon, prospects all over the 30 MLB farm systems have their cell phone ringers on, anxiously awaiting a potential call to the majors.
On the first of the month, MLB rosters will expand from 26 players to 28, which gives teams the opportunity to promote their top prospects to get a taste of the big leagues.
For the Phillies, however, it does not seem likely that their biggest names will be in consideration for a late-summer elevation. With the Phils in a division race, it isn't in their best interest to give their young players a trial run for experience's sake. Sure, the player might perform well, but if they don't, it could cost the Phillies. The risk isn't worth the reward.
That being said, these three important Phillies prospects should see playing time by this time next year, if they aren't brought up well before then.
Which Phillies prospects will join the “day care” next season?
The most obvious pick would be MLB.com’s 33rd-ranked prospect and right-handed pitcher Gage Wood.
Wood, who was drafted 26th overall in 2025 out of Arkansas, has showcased his flame-throwing ability this year. In 81 innings between stints in Single-A Clearwater and Double-A Reading, Wood, 22, has totaled 117 punchouts.
While his ERA is just a tad higher than the Phillies would like at 4.11, his velocity (96-99 MPH) and his ability to get batters to chase will work well for him in the majors when he does get promoted. Phillies fans have already seen Wood on the bump during his start in the Futures Game at Citizens Bank Park, but many can’t wait to see him face big league competition in 2027.
The next future Phillie that should see MLB time in 2027 will most likely be 21-year-old outfielder Dante Nori, who was drafted 27th overall in 2024. The Northville, Michigan, native had originally committed to playing college baseball at Mississippi State University before he was selected by the Phillies.
Nori began his professional baseball career in Clearwater, appearing in 14 games for the Threshers in 2024. The next year, he started the season in Clearwater but was promoted to the High-A Jersey Shore Blue Claws, where he stayed for 11 games. Later, Nori was assigned to Reading and finished out the season with the Fightin’ Phils for just a handful of starts. Across the three teams, Nori recorded a .260 batting average and a .732 OPS. He flashed his speed, stealing 52 bases and scoring 72 runs in 125 total games.
Nori broke out onto the scene earlier this year in the World Baseball Classic and was a key member of a Team Italy roster that made a Cinderella run to the semifinals. In six games (24 plate appearances) for his native country, Nori’s .400 batting average and 1.185 OPS was one of his squad’s best. His two-homer game against Brazil will be the stuff of legends for years to come for those who live on The Boot.
This season, injuries have hampered Nori, who has only suited up in just under 60 games. He most recently returned from a lower-body injury that has kept him out since June. In his first game back with the Fightin’ Phils, he hit a game-winning two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to keep Reading in the Eastern League playoff race.
The recovered Nori will hope to keep his bat hot and end 2026 on a high note. If he can do that, he has a good chance of cracking the MLB roster in 2027.
The third prospect that should be on Phillies fans’ radars comes with a big question mark.
Infielder Aidan Miller, who slots in at No. 61 on MLB.com's top prospect list, would likely have been an early-to-midseason addition for Philadelphia in 2026 had a lingering back injury not sidelined him for the entire year. In 2025, Miller split time between Reading and a late-season call-up to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, producing a .264/.392/.433 slash line with 14 homers, 42 RBI and 59 stolen bases. He had a real shot at making the major league roster with a strong spring training, but his health got in the way.
Luckily for Miller, his long absence has provided him with much-needed rest. Earlier this August, manager Don Mattingly said Miller is in the midst of his rehab and is progressing to baseball activities. With Miller on the mend, the possibility of seeing him make his MLB debut increases by the week. While he might not be ready to go next spring, a summer or fall call up in 2027 appears to be in the cards for the 22-year-old infielder, especially with Alec Bohm's likely departure clearing his path.
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