With a clear need in the bullpen and room for improvement in the batting order, the Phillies are set to be buyers ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline. Of course, every acquisition has a cost, so there will be plenty of attention on Philadelphia’s farm system.
Which players will the club be willing to give up? Which minor leaguers will get the Phillies the best return? Those questions might be answered later this week. In the meantime, Phillies Nation has put together its latest rankings of the top prospects in the Phillies organization.
As stated in previous versions of this prospect list, assessments of these prospects are based on the play the Phillies Nation staff has seen covering these players in-person, analysis of film, conversations with scouts, coaches and other player-development personnel and information from outlets such as Baseball America, FanGraphs and MLB Pipeline.
1. Andrew Painter, RHP
Painter, the 6-foot-7 power right-hander, has been a topic of discussion for a while despite being only 22 years old. He appeared ready to join the Phillies’ rotation out of spring in 2023 before injuring his elbow and eventually undergoing Tommy John surgery. Painter is back this year, and it hasn’t gone totally to plan.
He’s made 17 minor-league starts and 13 at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He has a 4.82 ERA in 61 2/3 innings with the IronPigs. It looks like he’s still working some things out in his first season after the injury, and he’d probably be with the Phillies by now if he was having more success. He’ll still likely make his debut in the majors at some point this season, and he still has the ability to become a future front-of-the-rotation starter. But Painter has been more hittable than expected in 2025.
2. Justin Crawford, OF
Crawford is a polarizing prospect who hits the ball on the ground at a staggering rate. But at some point, the results have to speak for themselves. The left-handed-hitting outfielder is batting .327/.409/.430 in 81 games at Triple-A at only 21 years old. He has three home runs and 31 stolen bases.
It’s certainly not conventional, but Crawford has continued to find a way to produce and do it his own way. He’s a tough out, a threat on the bases and solid in center field. Maybe he doesn’t have the same fortune against big-league pitching and infields, but it’s worked to this point. If the Phillies don’t add an outfielder at the deadline, perhaps Crawford could get an audition to help the team out.
3. Aidan Miller, INF
The 21-year-old Miller showed off an advanced approach early in his minor-league career after he was drafted in the first round in 2023. But he’s struggled to adjust to Double-A at a level with many older players. The infielder is batting .218/.340/.349 in 78 games this season.
Miller has stuck at the shortstop position and has stolen an impressive 37 bases, but he hasn’t quite tapped into his right-handed power. He has eight home runs this year and hit 11 in 102 games in the minors in 2024. Miller has been getting on base and has plenty of time to bounce back, but he’ll need to show more at the plate to reach his full potential.
4. Aroon Escobar, INF
Escobar put on a show as a 20-year-old at Single-A Clearwater to start the season, hitting 11 home runs in 69 games and earning a promotion to High-A. He’s struggled a bit at Jersey Shore, but his overall showing this year has been a big step.
An infielder with power, Escobar has played mostly second base and some third. He’s a right-handed hitter with on-base skills and intriguing pop, a combination that’s set him apart as the best Phillies prospect in the lower minors.
5. Eduardo Tait, C
Tait is a catcher who is still only 18 years old. He’s a left-handed hitter with a lot of power for his age. Like Escobar, Tait hit 11 homers at Clearwater on his way to a move up to High-A. The idea of a backstop with that kind of power is tantalizing.
The question remains whether or not he’ll stay behind the plate for good. Since Tait is so young, there may not be an answer for a while. For now, it seems like Phillies will keep him at catcher and see if he can utilize his tools to become the most valuable version of himself.
6. Mick Abel, RHP
After some tough years in the minors and a disaster 2024, the former first-round pick Abel reestablished himself as a legitimate prospect this season. In the minors, he settled a lot of the control issues that plagued him in years past. Abel pitched in the big leagues for the first time this season, making some incredible starts and some rough ones. He’s back in Triple-A now with a strong arsenal under him. The ability to throw quality strikes consistently would make all the difference.
7. Gage Wood, RHP
A College World Series hero after throwing the third no-hitter in the history of the event, the Phillies drafted the right-hander Wood in the first round this month. He was a reliever in his first two years in college at Arkansas and missed some time with a shoulder issue this year, but it doesn’t appear to be a major concern. Still, it’ll be interesting to see how he adjusts to a full starter’s workload moving forward. Wood pitches with fire and could move a little more quickly up the ranks if he stays healthy and throws the ball well.
8. Dante Nori, OF
Nori was Philadelphia’s first-round selection last year, and he’s a contact-first lefty bat and center fielder. He’s had a sound year with Clearwater at 20 years old, hitting .263/.355/.379 in 87 games. He was a bit older for a high schooler when he was drafted, and he could afford to add some power into his game. But Nori is a fast leadoff-type batter who’s stolen 25 bases this season and provides good defense in center.
9. Griffin Burkholder, OF
Burkholder, the team’s second rounder in 2024, missed time due to injury this season. But he’s returned and is playing for Clearwater now. The 19-year-old outfielder is athletic, a good runner and has a strong right-handed swing. It’s been a small sample size, but he’s batted only .197 in the minors this year.
10. Otto Kemp, INF
Kemp was on fire at Lehigh Valley earlier this season, and his power display got him a chance with the Phillies in the majors. He’s stepped into a fairly regular role with others out, playing some first base, third base and left field. Kemp did hit two home runs at Yankee Stadium this past weekend, but the power hasn’t quite carried over in the same way from the minors. But he’s been a decent right-handed hitter for a 25-year-old former undrafted free agent, allowing the Phillies to accept some of the defensive shortcomings and inconsistencies.
11. Carson DeMartini, INF
DeMartini had a good start to the season in High-A, which allowed him to move up to Double-A Reading. The new level has been a challenge, but the 22-year-old did flash power and on-base skills with Jersey Shore when he was there. DeMartini is a left-handed batter who can play shortstop or third base.
12. Matthew Fisher, RHP
The Phillies drafted Fisher in the seventh round this month, but he has the talent of a much higher pick. Fisher is a 19-year-old righty starter with athleticism and a hard fastball. He passed up a chance to play in college at Indiana to sign with Philadelphia.
13. Jean Cabrera, RHP
At 23, Cabrera has pitched well at Double-A Reading. The 6-foot starter has a 3.63 ERA in 18 starts for the Fightins. Cabrera is not overpowering, but he knows how to pitch with his arsenal and should be able to reach the majors in the next year or so. He could potentially be moved to the bullpen down the line, which could help his stuff play up.
14. Moisés Chace, RHP
Chace was an exciting pitcher after he was traded to the Phillies from the Orioles last season. But he didn’t pitch so well to start the year and any buzz around him was silenced when it was announced in May that the right-handed pitcher needed Tommy John surgery. Chace is at least a year away from getting back on the mound, but he should still have a power arsenal that he can use to his advantage after his recovery.
15. Gabriel Rincones Jr., OF
Rincones unleashed his power in spring training with the major-league club. The 24-year-old hasn’t quite been as good since, but he’s still a threat at Triple-A. Rincones has true raw power and can hit the ball as hard as anyone. But he doesn’t hit lefties well as a left-handed batter and has some limitations when it comes to utilizing his pop in the games.
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