Phillies GM offers concerning update on top prospect Aidan Miller

The ongoing saga of what is going on with Philadelphia Phillies top prospect Aidan Miller took another dramatic turn on Sunday. Placed on the injured list in April with lower back discomfort, Miller has not done anything baseball-related all season. 

Phillies general manager Preston Mattingly addressed Miller's status.

“We’re leaning on medical," Mattingly said, via Cole Weintraub of NBCS Philly. "He’s still just doing his rehab program at this point. Not baseball activities.”

Previous reports indicated that Miller was doing baseball activities, but Mattingly's comments indicate that such reports were either inaccurate or that the club has scaled back the prospect's activity.

Mattingly added that the Phillies expect Miller to play in games at some point in 2026, but that the club has no official diagnosis of what is ailing him, via Weintraub.

Miller was the Phillies' first-round (27th overall) draft pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. This is worth noting, as Miller was selected 10 picks before (37th overall) Detroit Tigers infielder and hometown kid Kevin McGonigle. 

McGonigle is currently on the Tigers' active roster, signed to a long-term extension (eight years, $150 million) and is a competitor to win the American League Rookie of the Year award. The 21-year-old is 12th among rookies for slugging percentage (.412), seventh in batting average (.287) and sixth in RBI (21). 

In contrast, Miller has only scratched the surface of his career, making it to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he played in eight games last season. Having a back issue, for a player as athletic as Miller is, will be a concern moving forward, given that he plays a physically demanding position like shortstop. 

Last season was a breakout season for Miller. While with the Phillies Double-A affiliate in Reading, Miller showcased his speed (stealing 52 bases) as well as his power (13 home runs and .427 slugging percentage). Even more impressive, he had 105 hits in 108 games.

Aidan Miller's injury is costing him a chance to play with the Phillies

Miller's missing so much time this season has cost him precious development time and a chance to play in the big leagues. The Phillies could have used someone like Miller in April when Alec Bohm and Bryson Stott were slumping.  

That need has subsided, as both Bohm and Stott put together a productive month of May. Bohm had an .811 OPS and 11 RBI in 91 at-bats, and Stott had an .722 OPS and five home runs in 93 at-bats.

Even if Miller somehow makes it to starting baseball activities and playing in games, fans should not expect him to debut in the big leagues this season. Even worse, Miller may not be able to make his debut until late 2027 or 2028 with a looming work stoppage threatening next season.

However, getting Miller healthy is the main priority.