Top 3 prospects among Phillies’ invites to spring training originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Right-hander Andrew Painter, shortstop Aidan Miller and outfielder Justin Crawford are regarded as the Phillies’ top three prospects and they are among a group of 23 non-roster invitees to Clearwater next month.
This will be the second big-league camp for Painter, who entered spring training 2023 in a battle for the Phillies’ fifth starter’s job before suffering an elbow injury that eventually led to Tommy John surgery.
The 21-year-old Painter is healthy now and dazzled in the Arizona Fall League, hitting 99 mph with his fastball and striking out 18 in 15⅔ innings to earn the AFL’s top pitching award.
There will be plenty of attention on Painter again this camp but it’s not the same situation as in 2023 when he appeared to have the inside track to a rotation spot. The Phillies’ starting staff is filled out with Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez, Cristopher Sanchez and Jesus Luzardo.
Painter will not pitch in games this spring training but he’ll go through a throwing program, then will continue building up in the minor leagues at some point in the first half. He has a chance to contribute at the big-league level in 2025, though president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said just before Christmas that the Phillies intend to save Painter’s innings for “July-ish.”
Miller, the highest-ranked Phillies prospect in MLB.com’s Top 100 at No. 26, will experience big-league camp for the first time as a 20-year-old. He was their first-round pick in 2023 and is coming off a strong season in which he demonstrated power and plate selection, earning two separate promotions. Miller hit .261/.366/.446 overall as one of the younger players at all three levels in which he appeared, starting 90 games at shortstop. He’s an important piece of the Phillies’ future because of his potential and their need to infuse inexpensive youthful energy into a costly veteran-laden lineup.
The same goes for Crawford, who turned 21 on Monday. The high-contact lefty hitter excelled at High A and Double A last season, batting .313 with a .360 on-base percentage and 42 stolen bases. The Phillies are hoping that in just a few years he can take over in center field.
Fellow outfield prospect Gabriel Rincones Jr. also earned an invite to Clearwater. Ranked by MLB.com as the Phillies’ No. 10 prospect, Rincones is a bit older, turning 24 on March 3. He’s a corner outfielder with power who…