The Philadelphia Phillies are expected to receive contributions from their top prospects this year. Justin Crawford is expected to make the Opening Day roster and is anticipated to be in the running for the 2026 NL Rookie of the Year Award.
Aidan Miller is one of the franchise's other young players who could be promoted during the season. He is expected to make a positive impression this year that could also put him in consideration for the award.
Miller is the Phillies' No. 2 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. The club has long-term plans for the infielder as he is one of their three young players they have not wanted to include in trades. His play during the final two months of the 2025 season in the minors was an indication of how valuable a player he could be with Philadelphia for the next several years.
Aidan Miller an under-the-radar candidate to win the 2026 NL Rookie of the Year
According to MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo, Crawford received 4.7 percent of the votes from MLB executives in a poll for the 2026 NL Rookie of the Year. That tied for fifth with Cincinnati Reds prospect infielder Sal Stewart.
Miller was among three other prospects who combined to make up 6.8 percent of the votes. The 27th overall pick by the Phillies in the 2023 MLB Draft may be promoted to the majors at some point this season if he is doing well in Triple-A and if there's an injury in Philadelphia's infield aside from first base.
AIDAN MILLER WHAT A PLAY!!! pic.twitter.com/nnB9m5whzs
— Reading Fightin Phils (@ReadingFightins) August 10, 2025
At the team's season-ending press conference in the fall, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski was open to the idea of Miller playing at second or third base in addition to his natural shortstop position. In the event of an injury to Trea Turner, it seems unlikely Miller will play at shortstop. Third base looks like the most likely position the 21-year-old will play with the franchise, as Alec Bohm will be a free agent next winter if he isn't traded this offseason or during the regular season.
After enduring offensive struggles in three of the first four months of 2025 with the Reading Fightin Phils in Double-A, Miller turned his season around in August. He had four home runs, 16 RBIs, 13 stolen bases, and a .348/.454/.629 slash line with a 1.083 OPS in 22 contests.
The Dunedin, Florida, native continued his hot streak into September with Reading and received a promotion to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Between the two clubs, he had two homers, three RBIs, nine stolen bases, and slugged a .370/.554/.565 line with a 1.119 OPS in 14 games.
If Miller continues to impress in Lehigh Valley during the 2026 season, the Phillies may have no choice but to promote him. The club needs more youth on the roster and is on track to potentially receive it from Miller this season.