A frustrated Aidan Miller says his sore back is ‘getting better,’ but his return is uncertain

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Aidan Miller isn’t on social media, so it wasn’t until his father sent along a television clip last Sunday that he realized Bryce Harper told Phillies fans everywhere that he’s injured.

“I was like, ‘Oh, that’s pretty cool,’” Miller said with a laugh Thursday. “’He’s talking about me on the broadcast.’”

If anything, it speaks to how highly the face of the Phillies thinks of the 21-year-old top prospect that the status of Miller’s sore lower back is on Harper’s mind. Soon, though, Miller hopes Harper will be talking about him more for what he does on the field.

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Miller’s work largely has been confined to the training room since the Grapefruit League schedule opened last weekend. He awoke one day last week, and his back was “super tight.” The feeling didn’t subside with treatment.

“We decided to take a couple of days off to just kind of let it relax, and now I’m kind of building back,” Miller said. “I feel like I’m in a better spot than I was. It’s getting better.”

The Phillies haven’t announced a timeline for Miller’s return, but they won’t rush him back.

“I still think I’m going to get into some games toward the end,” Miller said. “It’s definitely frustrating. I feel like it’s a big camp. Just really trying to stay present. My mind’s been spiraling a little like, ‘When am I going to get into games? Is it going to be next week? The week after?’ But I’m trying to just get better every day.”

Miller was a long shot to make the Phillies’ opening day roster. But he was expected to get reps in spring training at third base and second base, in addition to shortstop, in preparation for a potential midseason call-up.

The root of the lower back soreness is unclear, according to Miller, who said it wasn’t a specific incident on the field. He said he felt similar soreness late last season. Miller was ticketed to play in the Arizona Fall League, but the Phillies told him to stay home. At the time, farm director Luke Murton said Miller had “some nagging things physically.”

“It went away for a little bit, and I thought it was gone,” Miller said. “Structurally, there’s nothing wrong there. It’s just, I think swinging a bat 100,000 times a year, we put a little bit of a toll on it. I think it’s just finding a good routine that could help me and prevent flare-ups in the future. I’m not worried about it at all.”

Miller, whose spring training locker is sandwiched between those of Harper and J.T. Realmuto, said he has asked older teammates about best practices for dealing with similar issues.

“They’re texting people for me and trying to help me out,” Miller said. “They’ve been a huge help, just kind of bouncing questions off them.”

Miller, the Phillies’ first-round draft pick in 2023, has shot through the farm system over the last two years. Last season, he batted .264 with 27 doubles, 14 homers, 59 stolen bases, and an .825 OPS between double-A Reading and triple-A Lehigh Valley.