Major League Baseball's All-Star festivities are underway. Even though the actual All-Star Game won't happen until Tuesday, fans got a glimpse of the future with the 2025 All-Star Futures Game, which took place at Truist Park on Saturday. The National League won the contest 4-2.
The Philadelphia Phillies had two top prospects named to the National League roster: No. 1 prospect right-hander Andrew Painter and No. 4 prospect catcher Eduardo Tait. While Painter, who made his final first-half start in Triple-A on Sunday, didn't make the trip to Atlanta to pitch, Phillies fans had the chance to see Tait play in the annual prospect showcase. Although it might have been their last chance to see the slugging backstop representing the Phillies organization.
Eduardo Tait's two innings in the Futures Game might be his swan song with the Phillies as the trade deadline looms
Tait played two innings in the Futures Game, taking over behind the dish in the fourth and fifth innings, and went 0-for-1 at the plate with a fourth-inning ground out. He wasn't able to showcase his power on Saturday, but he has so far this season in Single-A Clearwater. Slashing .254/.328/.445 in 73 games, he leads the Florida State League with 11 home runs and 49 RBIs, while his 19 doubles rank second heading into Saturday's action.
Eduardo Tait swats his 10th home run for the @Threshers, tying him for the Single-A Florida State League lead 🌴
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 28, 2025
The Top 100 prospect (@Phillies) leads all 18-year-olds in homers and RBIs (42). pic.twitter.com/64XEYTn1ue
Unfortunately, there's a chance that Tait, who is still just 18 years old, won't make it to the majors with the Phillies. With an increasingly critical trade deadline on the horizon, the Phillies won't be shy about moving top prospects to get aggressive deadline deals done. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski knows that the clock is ticking on this current group of veterans. As a high-ranking prospect, Tait could easily be on the move (subscription required) by July 31, according to The Athletic's Matt Gelb.
Even with J.T. Realmuto potentially leaving in free agency, Tait won't be an option to take over the catching duties for the big club next season. There's even some doubt about whether he'll develop enough defensively to stick behind the plate as his bat carries him through the farm system.
Tait signed with the Phillies out of Panama in 2023 and began his professional career stateside last season. He slashed an impressive .302/.356/.486 with 11 homers and 73 RBIs in 79 games split between the the Florida Complex League and Single-A. Whether his big bat is still in the organization once the calendar flips to August remains to be seen.