The Philadelphia Phillies kicked off their first Grapefruit League home game Sunday, and fans listening to Bryce Harper’s in-dugout interview may have caught an unexpected update about top prospect Aidan Miller’s health.
Miller — the Phillies’ No. 1 prospect per MLB Pipeline and ranked No. 23 overall — has generated significant buzz early in camp. The talented shortstop is widely expected to make his MLB debut later this year, and many anticipated seeing him in the lineup once spring training games began.
His absence from Saturday’s road matchup in Dunedin against the Toronto Blue Jays raised some eyebrows. While fellow top prospect Justin Crawford made his first start and turned heads, it seemed like a prime opportunity for Miller to get early reps.
Now there’s clarity on the situation. After Harper alluded to Miller’s condition Sunday, reporters in Clearwater followed up with manager Rob Thomson after the Phillies’ 4–3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki shared the update, confirming that Miller is dealing with back soreness.
According to Zolecki, the Phillies are taking a cautious approach, giving Miller treatment and easing him through the week. If fully healthy, he would have played in Dunedin.
Thomson indicated the soreness surfaced recently and doesn’t believe it stemmed from an on-field incident. Although Miller was hit by a pitch during live batting practice last week, it wasn’t in the back — though there’s a slight chance he tweaked something while avoiding the pitch.
With camp still in its early stages, there’s no urgency. Thomson emphasized the team is simply being “super cautious” with the 21-year-old. Miller is expected to see time at both shortstop and third base this spring and is projected to eventually take over at third from Alec Bohm — whether later this season or in 2027 remains to be determined.
