A young Philadelphia Phillies minor-league player continues to impress, catching the eye of scouts throughout the league and giving fans hope for the future at the catcher position.
Eduardo Tait made the jump 21 spots from No. 88 to No. 67 in the newest Top 100 prospect rankings from Baseball America, becoming one of the biggest risers (subscription required). Elsewhere on the Top 100 list from the Phillies organization, Andrew Painter comes in at No. 14, Aiden Miller at No. 48, and Justin Crawford at No. 88 as they continue to develop and progress through the minors.
Early power show helps Phillies' Eduardo Tait become one of Baseball America's biggest Top 100 risers
Tait's leap in the Top 100 prospect rankings is thanks in large part to his mix of contact and power, which has been on full display so far this year, as he has six home runs in just 23 games for the Single-A Clearwater Threshers. He has posted a max exit velocity of 113.8 mph, with a 43.7 percent hard-hit rate and 14.5 percent barrel rate.
Tait, 18, signed with the Phillies as an international free agent back in 2023 for $90,000 out of Panama, and it has been a good investment for the team so far. In three seasons of professional action, Tait has compiled a .301 batting average to go along with 20 home runs and 128 RBIs in 146 games.Â
His defensive ability needs some work as he has 11 errors in 82 career games at catcher, but he does have 14 runners thrown out so far this season and just one passed ball in 121 innings. If he can continue to improve his defense, he could be a solid all around player for the Phillies going forward.
Phillies' future catcher situation will hopefully include Tait
The future of the Phillies' catching position has been a hot topic of discussion, especially considering J.T. Realmuto's contract situation and the lack of options left for both Rafael Marchán and Garrett Stubbs, who will be out of options after this season.
Realmuto is a free agent after this season, and while both sides have expressed interest in an extension, there has been no sign that a deal is imminent. He signed a five-year, $115 million contract in 2021 and will likely be one of the top free agent catchers on the market if he makes it that far. It is worth noting that Realmuto is 34 years of age and even if he re-signs with the team, the Phillies will likely take a hard look at the catcher position going forward, given his heavy workload.
Stubbs' and Marchán's futures with the team are in limbo, as they are not signed long-term past their arbitration period. Stubbs has one more year of arbitration and will become a free agent in 2027, while Marchán has three more years left of arbitration and will become a free agent in 2028, at a time when Tait could become a real option for the Phillies.
Still only just 18 years of age, Tait has a ways to go before he joins the major league roster but he is certainly a name to watch going forward as the Phillies look for their new everyday catcher.