No. 6: Eduardo Tait, C
As one of the organization’s breakout prospects last season, No. 4 prospect Eduardo Tait put together a solid 2024 campaign split between the Rookie-level FCL Phillies and Single-A Clearwater Threshers. In 80 total games, Tait compiled a stellar .302 average and .842 OPS, along with 42 runs scored, 18 doubles, 11 home runs and a whopping 73 RBIs. Just for good measure, he also managed to go a perfect 5-for-5 in stolen base attempts.
This year, Tait has continued his success with a strong start to 2025, posting a .279 average and .805 OPS with seven home runs and 31 RBIs in just 40 games with the Threshers. With his ability to hit for power, and maintain a high average while showing glimpses of speed, he appears more and more to be on his way to becoming J.T. Realmuto’s successor at the catcher position down the road for the Phillies.
No. 5: Mick Abel, RHP
When top pitching prospect Mick Abel, ranked No. 8 by MLB Pipeline, struggled immensely with his control and command last season, many had feared that he was turning into a bust. After posting an ERA of 6.46 and a WHIP of 1.81 with Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2024, a trip to the development list helped salvage his disappointing campaign by righting the ship somewhat for the 23-year-old right-hander. In doing so, he posted solid outings in which he gave up just two runs or fewer in five of his final nine starts.
Whatever they worked on with Abel, it seems to have provided the antidote to his issues, as he has gotten off to a strong start in 2025. He has rediscovered his prior dominant form by going 6-2 with a stellar 2.41 ERA, 1.20 WHIP along with 59 strikeouts in 52 1/3 innings pitched in nine starts with Lehigh Valley.
That performance earned him a one-game spot start in the majors to make his MLB debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Abel dazzled by holding the Pirates scoreless on five hits with nine strikeouts over six innings to record his first-ever major league win. As a result, he has reinstated himself as a major piece in the Phillies’ pitching puzzle for the future.
Mick Abel ties the @Phillies record since at least 1901 (Curt Simmons, 1947) with the most punchouts in an MLB debut!
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 18, 2025
6 IP
5 H
0 R
0 BB
9 K pic.twitter.com/dhjGXP6rmt
No. 4: Justin Crawford, OF
It has been a while since the Phillies have had an elite, potential five-tool outfield prospect since the Shane Victorino era. But with the rapidly budding Justin Crawford, Philadelphia may finally have one on their hands after almost two decades.
Crawford is coming off a breakthrough 2024 minor league campaign in which he batted a solid .313 with an .805 OPS, with 79 runs scored, 25 doubles, four triples, nine home runs, 61 RBIs and 42 stolen bases in 110 games. That was enough to earn him the Paul Owens Award as the Phillies Minor League Player of the Year.
This year, Crawford is one step closer to the big leagues as he began his 2025 season with Lehigh Valley. He certainly hasn’t looked out of place, compiling a .324 average and .827 OPS, with 35 runs scored, 11 doubles, three triples, one home run, 18 RBIs and 16 stolen bases in 46 games of action. With the Phillies constantly looking for the ideal solution for their outfield over the past couple of seasons, they may already have it in Crawford. Philadelphia just needs to wait until he’s officially ready, which could come sooner than expected.