Phillies prospect Aidan Miller is ‘progressing very well’ and could be close to playing again
Following a June 5 spinal procedure, Miller is “moving as good as I’ve ever seen him,” said Phillies farm director Luke Murton. Here are the scenarios for his return to the field this season.
Aidan Miller may be close to playing again.
Miller, the Phillies’ top position player prospect, has missed the season because of a back condition. But in an appearance this week on Phillies Extra, The Inquirer’s baseball podcast, minor league director Luke Murton said the 22-year-old shortstop is “progressing very well.”
“I don’t want to overpromise and underdeliver, but there may be a surprise in the near future,” Murton said. “I’ll say that. I’ll leave it at that for now.”
The Phillies have been intentionally vague with updates on Miller, especially since a June 5 spinal procedure to relieve recurring low-back pain. At the time, the Phillies set a “goal to return to game activity in six to eight weeks.” But Miller only resumed all baseball activities, including swinging a bat, last month.
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Murton suggested the Phillies have taken a conservative path with Miller.
“He wants to be on the field,” Murton said. “It’s hard. But he also understands the big picture. He’s got a long career ahead of him. … Just from seeing him move around of late, he’s moving as good as I’ve ever seen him. And so I’m excited about where he’s at right now. I’m excited about where he’s going to go.”
The minor league season is nearing an end, with both A-ball levels wrapping up Sunday, double A on Sept. 13, and triple A on Sept. 20. But the Phillies’ low-A Clearwater team qualified for the Florida State League playoffs next week, a logical starting point for Miller’s return to game action.
Double-A Reading also is closing in on a second-half title in the Eastern League, which would net a spot in the postseason and provide additional opportunity for Miller to get into games.
The Phillies also could choose to send Miller to the Arizona Fall League, which begins on Oct. 3. He was scheduled to play there last year, but the Phillies withdrew him because of late-season discomfort in his back.
Miller, the 27th overall pick in the 2023 draft, had an .825 OPS, 27 doubles, 14 homers, and 59 stolen bases last season, mostly in double A. He got promoted to triple A in September and went 9-for-27 (.333) with one homer and seven steals.
The Phillies hoped Miller would contribute in the majors this season, even purposely placing his spring training locker in the high-rent district of the clubhouse, in between Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto. But the back pain resurfaced in spring training after subsiding with rest in the offseason.
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After seeing multiple spine specialists, Miller was diagnosed with discogenic pain and facet inflammation in the lumbar spine, according to the team in June. He underwent a radiofrequency ablation of the facet joints, a procedure described by the Phillies as “minimally invasive.”
It’s unclear whether Miller will have to manage the condition throughout his career.
“As far as the long-term effects, positive, negative, I would let the [medical] experts speak to that,” Murton said. “But I feel pretty confident, [based on] what we’ve been seeing lately, that he’s on the right trajectory to be with us and be a good player for a long time.”
The full episode of Phillies Extra will be available Friday on inquirer.com, The Inquirer’s YouTube channel, or by subscribing on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
With one month left in the season, the Phillies are jockeying for playoff positioning in the National League. And things are about to heat up with a critical three-game series in Arizona. Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen joins Phillies Extra to discuss the wild-card race, the drama involving star second baseman Ketel Marte, and the 2023 NLCS, which left scars in Philadelphia that still haven't healed. Watch here.
You can also subscribe to the podcast version of Phillies Extra on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Previous episodes: Tony Gwynn Jr. | Kevin Stocker | Bobby Dickerson | Jim Bowden | John Middleton | Ryan Howard | Dan Baker | Ricky Bottalico | Preston Mattingly | Caleb Cotham
