Updating the Phillies' Top 10 Prospects: Andrew Painter, Aidan Miller, Justin Crawford, Mick Abel, Griff McGarry and More

It’s time to continue the series where I look at MLB team’s top 10 prospects and how they are faring in the minor leagues.

We’ve already covered the Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Colorado Rockies and Seattle Mariners and will be looking at the Philadelphia Phillies today.

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Phillies’ Top Prospects

Andrew Painter is the top prospect in the Phillies’ organization. The 21-year-old righty is part of the Double-A team right now, but hasn’t pitched since 2022. He was the 13th overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft and has an ETA of 2025 according to MLB.com.

In parts of two minor league seasons (2021-22), Painter had a 1.48 earned run average and 167 strikeouts over 109 2/3 innings. Opponents hit just .181 against him, and his WHIP was a strong 0.88.

He had an elbow injury in 2023 that eventually turned into Tommy John surgery. Painter is not expected to pitch again until next season. He was quickly working his way toward the MLB, and depending on how he fares when he returns to the mound, I think a 2025 MLB debut is still doable for the 6-foot-7 pitcher.

There’s obviously concern anytime a pitcher has Tommy John surgery, but plenty of guys have come back strong (and sometimes even stronger). His trade value in dynasty fantasy leagues is probably a bit lower because of the injury concern, so I’m either holding on to Painter or trying to buy low on him.

Aidan Miller is the team’s No. 2 prospect. He’s 20 years old and in High-A ball. The 27th overall pick in last year’s draft has an ETA of 2027.

Miller hit .303 in his first 20 minor league games in 2023. He’s dropped to a .245 average across 60 games in Single-A and High-A this season, but does have a .363 on-base percentage, along with seven homers, 36 RBIs, 35 runs scored, 35 walks, 13 stolen bases and 59 strikeouts.

He’s a young hitter and has some things to refine on his journey to the big leagues, but he’s graded at least average in all five tools. Miller has 60 grades for his power and arm.

Miller is one of my personal favorite prospects in dynasty leagues and I think he’ll catch fire at the plate at some point this season. He’s too young to truly be worried about, and I think it’s possible for him to make the big leagues before his protected 2027 ETA.

His lower average might make him a little cheaper in a deal, so it’s worth throwing out some offers for him.

Justin Crawford is the Phils’ No. 3 prospect and a 20-year-old outfielder who just got promoted to AA. He was the 17th pick in the 2022 draft and has an ETA of 2026.

In parts of three minor league seasons, Crawford has a .312 average and .369 OBP. This season in High-A before being called up, Crawford had a .301 average and .349 OBP, along with six homers, 35 RBIs, 54 runs scored, 21 walks, 64 strikeouts and 27 stolen bases across 70 games.

Being only 20 and in Double-A is a big deal, and Crawford looks to be a quick riser in the organization. If he continues to hit well, I think there’s a chance he makes the big leagues in 2025, not 2026.

Crawford has a 75 grade for run, 60 grade for field and a 55 mark for hit and arm. His lone below-average tool is his power, graded at a 40. He’s worth at least considering in deeper dynasty leagues.

Starlyn Caba is the team’s No. 4 prospect. He’s 18, a shortstop, playing in rookie ball, a switch hitter, was signed by the team in 2023 and has a 2027 ETA.

He’s got a 65 grade for field, 60 for run, 55 for hit and arm and 40 for power. In 85 total games in rookie ball the past two seasons, Caba has a .278 average and .431 OBP. He’s got two homers, 33 RBIs, 70 runs scored, 77 walks, 47 strikeouts and 51 stolen bases across 85 games played.

Caba could be one of the top-ranked prospects in baseball before he makes the big leagues if everything comes together for him. He doesn’t homer much, but a low strikeout rate, high OBP and stolen bases help make up for that.

He’s another prospect to stash in deeper fantasy leagues, or in situations where your fantasy team is a couple years from truly competing.

Mick Abel ranks fifth in the Philadelphia organization. He’s a 22-year-old right-handed pitcher currently in AAA. Abel was the 15th overall pick in 2020.

Abel hasn’t been an elite minor league pitcher over his four years in the system, but this year in Triple-A, he’s definitely regressed. He’s 2-7 with a 6.88 ERA and just 64 strikeouts in 68 innings. Opponents are hitting .280 off Abel, and the pitcher has a 1.85 WHIP.

Abel would probably be struggling to make the MLB with all the pitching talent Philly has at its disposal, but he’s not doing himself any favors this season. I could see the Phillies moving Abel at the deadline, and some new scenery might be what Abel needs to get going. I’m not ready to give up on Abel, but there’s definitely some concern after how things have gone this season.

Devin Saltiban is the team’s No. 6 prospect. The middle infielder is 19 years old, playing in A-ball and was the team’s third-round pick in 2023.

He’s got a 60 grade for run and 50 marks in hit, power, arm and field. In 70 A-ball games this season, Saltiban has a .227 average and .347 OBP. He has 11 homers among his 56 total hits, along with 37 RBIs, 50 runs scored, 39 walks, 79 strikeouts and 14 stolen bases.

Saltiban has some things to clean up before moving up in the minor leagues, but I wouldn’t be worrying too much about his lower average this season. He’s young and has time to tune things up before reaching the big leagues a few years down the line.

Bryan Rincon is the team’s No. 7 prospect. He’s got 60 grades for his arm and fielding, an average mark in running and 45 marks for his hitting and power. He’s 20 years old, playing in High-A, a switch hitter with a 2026 ETA and was a 14th-round pick in 2022.

It’s not often you see 14th-round picks this high up a team’s top prospect list, especially when you see some of Rincon’s offensive numbers. Across parts of three minor league seasons, Rincon has a .224 average and .358 OBP, 12 home runs, 75 RBIs, 91 runs, 92 walks, 118 strikeouts and 38 stolen bases in 138 games played.

He’s still young and a raw talent, but being known best for his defense, Rincon isn’t really on a dynasty league owner’s mind right now. If he can start producing more at the plate, Rincon should get some attention in deep dynasty leagues.

Eduardo Tait is the team’s No. 8 prospect. He’s just 17, a catcher playing in rookie ball, was signed in 2023 and has an ETA of 2028. 

Tait has a 60 grade for his arm, average marks for hitting and power and below-average marks for his running and fielding. He’s got a .327 average and .391 OBP across parts of two minor league seasons so far. Tair has nine homers, 82 RBIs, 56 runs scored, 25 walks, 58 strikeouts and eight stolen bases across 90 games.

He’s got a long way to go to reach the majors, but I like some of the numbers I’m seeing so far. Tait is a prospect to keep tabs on and potentially add in a couple seasons (if you don’t have extremely large rosters or are competing right now).

Gabriel Rincones Jr. is ranked ninth in the organization. He’s a 23-year-old outfielder who was in AA earlier this season. Rincones was the 93rd overall pick in 2022 and has an ETA of 2025.

His power (55) is his best tool, with average marks in hit and arm but below-average grades for field (45) and run (30). In 13 AA games this season, Rincones has a .300 average and .417 OBP, with four homers among his 15 hits.

He’s the classic boom-or-bust hitter in today’s game. Rincones has moved quickly through the minors, and as long as he gets back to AA ball soon, could indeed debut at some time in 2025, probably in the second half of the season.

Griff McGarry is the No. 10 prospect. He’s 25 years old, has made it up to Triple-A and was a fifth-round pick in 2021.

He has a career 4.30 ERA in the minor leagues, with 281 strikeouts over 190 1/3 innings. Those numbers look great on the outside, but not having reached 90 minor league innings in a season and already being 25, that hurts McGarry’s long-term outlook. 

McGarry could be moved at the trade deadline, otherwise I’d expect him to get some spot starts or be the long reliever out of the bullpen at some point this regular season. He doesn’t look to have a super promising MLB career ahead of him, but you never know, so he’s worth monitoring.