The Phillies’ offseason puzzle has an obvious internal name attached to it: Aidan Miller.
With Alec Bohm and Luis Arraez expected to hit free agency once their contracts expire, Philadelphia suddenly has some room to sort out infield depth. The front office can shop outside the organization if it wants, but Miller is pushing his way into the conversation as a possible answer from within.
That’s a notable turn for one of the organization’s most watched prospects. Since the Phillies took him with the 27th pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, Miller has climbed through the system from the Florida Clearwater League all the way to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. This past season, though, his rise hit a detour when a serious back injury limited him to just a small stretch of game action.
He did manage to get back on the field in the final weeks of the minor league season, appearing for the Reading Fightin Phils during their championship run. Now he’s spending the offseason in the Arizona Fall League, and the early signs are loud.
In an interview with MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo, Miller said his body is finally back where he wants it.
"I had a couple of setbacks with the back and couldn't really get into a good spot and then finally did, and I feel great now," Miller explained. "I didn't know if I'd be playing this year and to be where I'm at right now feeling 100 percent, kind of feel like myself again, it's really nice."
The production has matched the optimism. Through his first four games in the Arizona Fall League, Miller is slashing .550/.700/.833, with two RBIs and seven walks. His batting average is second-best in the league, trailing only Welbyn Francisca’s .556, and Francisca is part of the Cleveland Guardians’ prospect pipeline.
Miller’s offseason run is worth watching closely, especially with his path to the majors currently listed by MiLB.com as 2027.
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Aidan Miller Is Giving The Phillies A Future Infield Dilemma
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The catch is that Philadelphia already has Trea Turner locked in at shortstop, which means Millers rise does not come with an obvious home. The Phillies are watching closely to see how far along he gets defensively and how ready he becomes for a bigger role, since his development could eventually force them to rethink their infield plans rather than simply wait for the next young infielder to find a position. [Read more 🡒]