Four Phillies top prospects are promising enough to make MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects for 2024, but only one is included in Baseball America’s rankings.
MLB Pipeline recently released its Top 100 Prospects list for 2024, and four Philadelphia Phillies appear in the rankings.
Notable names from around the league in this update include infielder Jackson Holliday (No. 1, Baltimore Orioles), outfielder Jackson Chourio ( No. 2, Milwaukee Brewers), and pitcher Paul Skenes (No. 3, Pittsburgh Pirates), who represent some of the most exciting young players in baseball. The Chicago Cubs and Orioles have the most Top 100 Prospects this year, with seven and six, respectively. The Phillies are tied with 11 other teams with their four Top 100 prospects.
The Phillies’ top prospects include Andrew Painter (No. 27), Mick Abel (No. 49), Aidan Miller (No. 61), and Justin Crawford (No. 77).
Andrew Painter, No. 27
The Phillies have some talented young players looking to continue their development in the minor leagues this season. Unfortunately, pitcher Andrew Painter, who underwent Tommy John surgery last year will miss 2024.
The 6-foot-7, 215-pound phenom right-hander, is unequivocally the Phillies’ top prospect. Ranked 27th on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list, he’s the only Phillies player to make Baseball America’s Top 100 prospect list for 2024 (subscription required), where he ranks 12th.
He started 2022 in Single-A with the Clearwater Threshers, made some starts in High-A with the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, and finished the year in Double-A with the Reading Fightin Phils.
Overall, Painter made 22 starts and finished with a 6-2 record and a 1.56 ERA in 103 2/3 innings. He had 155 strikeouts and a 0.89 WHIP. He has demonstrated elite ability at the minor league level, and it won’t be many more years before he debuts in the majors if he continues on his current trajectory once he returns in 2025.
The Pompano Beach, Florida native may appear in a Phillies uniform at some point during the 2025 season and should be a strong candidate to make the team out of spring training for 2026.
Mick Abel, No. 49
Mick Abel began last year with the Fightin Phils and finished 2023 in Triple-A with the IronPigs. Considering he was the Phillies’ No. 2 prospect in 2023, his performance during spring training will garner attention to see if he can make Philadelphia’s roster to start 2024.
The right-hander is the furthest in his development of the remaining Phillies Top 100 prospects.
He’ll likely begin the year with the IronPigs, as he could use more development. After starting 27 games the past two years with Reading, Abel only has one career start with Lehigh Valley. He went 6-8 in 131 2/3 innings with the Fightin Phils. He posted a 3.52 ERA in 2022, followed by a 4.14 ERA last year at Double-A.
The 2020 first-round pick may make the Phillies at some point in 2024 if he improves at Triple-A. If Abel spends all of this year with Lehigh Valley and works out the concerns with his control, it could put him in a good position to debut in the Majors in 2025.
Aidan Miller, No. 61
Aidan Miller is a player to watch in the Phillies minor league system this season. Philadelphia’s 2023 first-round pick made MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 third base prospects for 2024. Between his time with the rookie affiliate FCL Phillies and the Threshers, the third baseman/shortstop finished with a .303/.425/.379 line in 66 at-bats over 20 games.
Defensively, Miller played at shortstop last year, his position in high school. In 18 games at short with the FCL Phillies and Clearwater, the 19-year-old finished with 29 assists, six errors, and a .885 fielding percentage. He had a .846 percentage in the FCL but made some improvements at Clearwater, where he had a .923 percentage. He’ll also spend time at third base, presumably beginning in 2024.
Justin Crawford, No. 77
Justin Crawford is the son of former major league outfielder Carl Crawford and the second cousin of current Seattle Mariners and former Phillies infielder J.P. Crawford. The 20-year-old outfielder appears to be a dynamic player in the Phillies minor league system.
Crawford made significant improvement last year in Clearwater after appearing briefly with the club in 2022. He had a .344/.399/.478 line in 69 contests with the Threshers during the 2023 season. He showed off his speed, finishing with 40 stolen bases in 47 attempts. The outfielder also had 60 RBI.
He finished 2023 with the BlueClaws, where he had a .288/.366/.425 line with six doubles in 18 contests. The Phoenix, AZ native is a talented player defensively and has played in center field since his minor league debut two seasons ago.
After posting a perfect fielding percentage in 2022, he struggled a bit last year but finished with a very good fielding percentage. Between Clearwater and Jersey Shore, Crawford posted 153 total chances, 144 putouts, two assists, seven errors, and a .954 fielding percentage.
He has demonstrated his talent so far and will be an exciting player to follow in the minors during the 2024 season. If he continues on his current trajectory, he could make his major league debut in 2026.
