Four Philadelphia Phillies are ranked among the Top 100 Prospects for 2024, according to MLB Pipeline, which issued the list yesterday.
Among the most interesting young players in baseball are represented by notable names from around the league in this update: pitcher Paul Skenes (No. 3, Pittsburgh Pirates), outfielder Jackson Chourio (No. 2, Milwaukee Brewers), and infielder Jackson Holliday (No. 1, Baltimore Orioles). With seven and six, respectively, the Chicago Cubs and Orioles have the most prospects in the Top 100 this season. With four prospects ranked in the Top 100, the Phillies are tied with eleven other teams.
Top prospects for the Phillies are Aidan Miller (No. 61), Justin Crawford (No. 77), Mick Abel (No. 49), and Andrew Painter (No. 27).
No. 27 Andrew Painter
This season, a few of the Phillies’ young, gifted players will be spending time at the minor levels to further their growth. Pitcher Andrew Painter will regrettably miss 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery last year.
Without a doubt, the 6-foot-7, 215-pound prodigy right-hander is the Phillies’ best prospect. He is the only Phillies player to rank 12th on Baseball America’s Top 100 prospect list for 2024 (subscription required), while ranking 27th on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list.
He began 2022 with the Clearwater Threshers in Single-A, made a few starts with the Jersey Shore BlueClaws in High-A, and concluded the season with the Reading Fightin Phils in Double-A.
Painter completed the season with a 6-2 record, a 1.56 ERA, and 103 2/3 innings pitched while making 22 starts overall. With 155 strikeouts, his WHIP was 0.89. If he keeps going in the same direction after his return in 2025, he won’t have many more years before making his major league debut. He has proven to be an outstanding player in the minor leagues.
The native of Pompano Beach, Florida, might don a Phillies uniform at some point in 2025, and he’s a good bet to make the team out of spring training in 2026.
Mick Abel, position 49
Mick Abel started 2023 in Triple-A with the IronPigs after joining the Fighting Phils the previous year. Considering that he was the Phillies’ second-best prospect in 2023, people will be watching his performance in spring training to see if he can break into the starting lineup in Philadelphia in 2024.
Between the remaining Phillies Top 100 prospects, the right-hander is at the most advanced stage of his development.
He could use more development; therefore, the IronPigs will probably be his home team to start the season. Abel has made just one career start with Lehigh Valley after starting 27 games with Reading over the previous two years. In 131 2/3 innings with the Fightin Phils, he had a 6-8 record. He had a 3.52 ERA in 2022 and a 4.14 ERA at Double-A the previous season.
If he continues to progress in Triple-A, the 2020 first-round selection might be called up by the Phillies in 2024. If Abel plays with Lehigh Valley for the entire season and resolves his control issues, he may be well-positioned to make his main league debut in 2025.
Miller, Aidan, No. 61
This season, Aidan Miller is a player to keep an eye on in the Phillies minor league system. The Top 10 third base prospects for 2024, according to MLB Pipeline, include Philadelphia’s 2023 first-round selection. The third baseman/shortstop played in 20 games for the Threshers and rookie affiliate FCL Phillies, totaling 66 at-bats with a.303/.425/.379 line.
Miller played shortstop in high school, so he was a defensive shortstop last season. The 19-year-old has a.885 fielding percentage, six errors, and 29 assists in 18 games with the FCL Phillies and Clearwater. He had a.846% in the FCL, but in Clearwater, where he had a.923%, he showed considerable improvement. In addition, he will play third base for a while, most likely starting in 2024.
No. 77 Justin Crawford
Justin Crawford is the second cousin of current Seattle Mariners infielder J.P. Crawford and the son of former big league outfielder Carl Crawford. The outfielder, who is 20 years old, seems to be a productive member of the Phillies minor league team.
Crawford, who made a cameo appearance with the team in 2022, improved significantly in Clearwater last year. In 69 games with the Threshers in 2023, he posted a.344/.399/.478 line. In 47 attempts, he finished with 40 stolen bases, showcasing his speed. The outfielder had 60 RBI as well.
He played for the BlueClaws through the end of 2023, finishing with a.288/.366/.425 line in 18 games. He also hit six doubles. Since making his minor league debut two seasons ago, the product of Phoenix, Arizona, has played in centre field and is a gifted defensive player.
He struggled a little last year but still managed to finish with a very good fielding percentage, following off a flawless fielding percentage in 2022. Crawford recorded 153 total chances, 144 putouts, two assists, seven errors, and a.954 fielding percentage between Clearwater and Jersey Shore.
Having already shown his skill, he will be a fun player to watch in the lower leagues in 2024. In 2026, if he keeps going in the same direction, he might make his major league debut.
Leave a Reply