Spring training games are right around the corner, and that means exposure to some of the prospect talent that the Philadelphia Phillies have to offer. With some prospects poised to make their debut in 2026, the Phillies have some excitement in camp this season. For Phillies fans, the farm system and its potential influence in the upcoming season have not been a familiar feeling. This year could change the course of recent history for this franchise.
The Phillies have lacked significant juice from their farm system for a while now. Pitching prospect Andrew Painter and outfield prospect Justin Crawford will be the immediate litmus test if that can be turned around in 2026. Matt Gelb of The Athletic highlighted what those two are up against (subscription required).
“No team has failed to infuse younger talent in recent years like the Phillies have,” Gelb notes. “Since 2021, there have been 220 rookies across MLB with 200 plate appearances in a season. Only three—Stott, Matt Vierling, and Otto Kemp—were Phillies. On the pitching side, only Orion Kerkering has made significant contributions before turning 25. It might feel impossible for the Phillies to achieve this. But even a bit of progress here would help invigorate them.”
A ton of focus will be on Crawford/Painter/Miller this spring.
— Cory Nidoh (@Cory_Nidoh) February 12, 2026
Great nugget here from @MattGelb in his piece laying out where the #Phillies have stood in terms of not having rookies play relevant roles in the lineup. pic.twitter.com/QDKKLQh4WX
Phillies prospects Justin Crawford, Andrew Painter carry a heavy load on their shoulders in 2026
Third baseman Alec Bohm came up in the shortened 2020 season and was an All-Star in 2024, but the Phillies have whiffed on a lot since then. Bryson Stott, Otto Kemp, and former Phillie Matt Vierling have been respectable big leaguers, but prove more so in the right direction for the way the franchise is headed.
Crawford and Painter are looking to debut in 2026 and have much loftier expectations for their contributions. Crawford was drafted 17th overall in 2022, and Painter was drafted 13th overall in 2021.
Crawford will hopefully secure the Opening Day center field job after leading the International League in Triple-A with a .334 batting average in 2025. He currently ranks as the Phillies' No. 3 MLB Pipeline prospect and No. 53 in the Top 100. The Phillies have had a void in the outfield and with Crawford's burst onto the scene the Phillies have no choice but to give him the job.
Painter is the Phillies' No. 2 prospect and No. 28 in MLB. He missed over a year and a half due to Tommy John surgery, but Painter is working his way back into the fold and is expecting to be part of the rotation in 2026. The loss of left-hander Ranger Suárez has opened the door for Painter to slide right into one of the best rotations in MLB.
Painter struggled in Triple-A Lehigh Valley last season with a 5.40 ERA across 22 starts but is looking to bounce back to his pre-injury form this spring. In his last full season before surgery in 2022, Painter pitched to a 1.56 ERA across three minor league levels.
The Phillies have won back-to-back division titles and have been a prominent postseason presence. They're looking to compete for a World Series again in 2026 but need the youth of a successful farm system to keep them competing in the future. Shortstop Aidan Miller will be a later addition to the fold, but Crawford and Painter have a great chance at helping the organization turn over a new leaf in 2026.