Phillies' top draft pick ranks in Pipeline's Top 10 third base prospects for 2024
Philadelphia's first-round draft pick in the 2023 MLB Draft ranks among the best prospects at his position for the upcoming season.
Aidan Miller, the Philadelphia Phillies' first-round selection with the 27th pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, made MLB Pipeline's prospect list for the 2024 season. The third baseman is MLB Pipeline's ninth-ranked best player at his position.
Look who it is!@aidanmiller__ has made @MLBPipeline's Top 10 3B Prospect list 👏 https://t.co/vviMNE1ALS
— Phillies Player Development (@PhilsPlayerDev) January 23, 2024
Miller started his minor league career with the rookie affiliate, Florida Complex League (FCL) Phillies, last year. The 19-year-old excelled at the plate with a .414/.528/.483 slash line and a 1.011 OPS in 10 games. He played nine games at shortstop, his other position besides third base, with the FCL ball club. Miller had 11 assists, four errors, and a .846 fielding percentage.
After less than a month, he received a promotion to the Phillies' Single-A team, the Clearwater Threshers, where his offensive numbers were lower than what he finished with at the FCL. Miller had a stat line of .216/.341/.297 and an OPS of .638 in 10 contests with Clearwater. Defensively, at shortstop, the Dunedin, Florida, native totaled 18 assists, two errors, and a fielding percentage of .923.
Aidan Miller’s first professional home run! pic.twitter.com/WIv1hYQBwE
— Milb Central (@milb_central) September 16, 2023
According to his Pipeline prospect scouting report, Miller already has a decent amount of strength that will aid him at the plate and in the field. His power and arm are each rated by scouts at 60 on the 80-grade scale. Depending on how he progresses at third base during his time in the minors, he may be suited to play defensively at first. However, he will likely be positioned primarily at shortstop, his position at J.W. Mitchell High School in Florida, and at third base over the next few years.
Between his time at the FCL and Single-A last year, he had a .303/.425/.379 line and a .804 OPS. In 20 contests, he went 20-for-66 with a .392 BABIP. The infielder will presumably begin 2024 with the Threshers, aiming to improve his offensive numbers. According to some MLB executives, he could be a potential breakout player this season.
Miller is the Phillies' No. 4 prospect on Pipeline's last 2023 update and has an estimated arrival time to the major league level for 2027. Based on his current defensive scouting grade of 50, his potential in the field could be an asset Philadelphia may benefit from in a few years once he's ready to be promoted to the majors.
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