Every summer, Major League Baseball invites the best and brightest of its young blossoming stars for the future to All-Star Week to play in the All-Star Futures Game. The one-off game showcases some of the most talented prospects the minors leagues have to offer, and this year the Philadelphia Phillies have two youngsters named to the National League team.
MLB revealed the Futures Game rosters on Monday, with right-hander Andrew Painter (Phillies No. 1 prospect, MLB No. 5) and catcher Eduardo Tait (Phillies No. 4, MLB No. 69) included among the stars of tomorrow.
Phillies' top prospect Andrew Painter won't pitch in All-Star Futures Game
Unfortunately, Phillies fans who were hoping to see the potential battery of the future team up at the Futures Game will have to wait for another day. The Phillies, who had previously announced that the All-Star break will be used as a rest period for the 22-year-old Painter, are sticking by their plans, according to Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
On his road back from 2023 Tommy John surgery, Painter made his Triple-A debut on May 8. He has gradually been building up his workload over nine starts with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. The Phillies were originally eyeing a post-All-Star break big league debut for the former first-round pick, but he has faced some adversity pitching at the minors' highest level.
Over nine Triple-A starts, Painter has a 4.24 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP with 45 strikeouts and 18 walks in 40 1/3 innings. There's a chance that he doesn't get the call when initially anticipated, with Phillies manger Rob Thomson recently telling reporters that Painter will have to earn his way to the majors like every other minor league player.
"The poise is very good, the composure's very good," Thomson said last week, per On Pattison's Tim Kelly. "If he stays healthy and he's pitching well, then he deserves to be here."
The NL All-Star Futures Game roster features 17 Top 100 prospects! 💪 pic.twitter.com/GgyrxRMu79
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) June 30, 2025
Tait, still only 18, has spent the year with the Single-A Clearwater Threshers. In 65 games, he's slashing .256/.328/.449 (.776 OPS). His 10 home runs are tied with teammate Aroon Escobar for the Florida State League lead, while his 42 RBIs ranks second.
There are still doubts about whether Tait will remain a catcher as he develops through the Phillies' farm system, but evaluators seem convinced that his bat will carry him. If he does stick behind the plate, in a few years we could see Painter leading the rotation every five days with Tait his everyday catching partner.
The Phillies sent two prospects to last year's Futures Game, with Aidan Miller (Phillies No. 2, MLB No. 20) and Justin Crawford (Phillies No. 3, MLB No. 49) selected. Crawford was the organization's lone representative in 2023.
Fans can watch the 2025 All-Star Futures Game on Saturday, July 12 at 4 p.m. ET on MLB Network, MLB.TV, MLB.com and the MLB app.