The Philadelphia Phillies didn't get much of a chance to see what Aidan Miller could do in 2026.
That wasn't because Miller suddenly stopped being one of the organization's most talented prospects. It was because his season was riddled with injury.
Miller missed essentially the entire season after dealing with a recurring back issue that eventually required a procedure. After entering the year as the Phillies' top prospect, his development understandably became a question mark as the months continued to pass without him getting regular at-bats.
There will be some who look at Miller's 2026 season and say he lost valuable development time, and that’s fair, but it doesn't mean Miller can't make up for that lost time quickly.
In fact, the Phillies could have a very interesting piece on their hands heading into 2027, and with the roster seemingly in flux and some changes needed, Miller could be just what Philadelphia needs.
The biggest question surrounding Miller isn't whether he has the talent to eventually play in the Major Leagues; it is where he will play.
Miller has spent the vast majority of his professional career at shortstop. He has logged more than 1,800 innings at the position in the Phillies' system and has established himself as a strong defensive shortstop.
Trea Turner is currently the Phillies’ starting shortstop, but that doesn't mean Miller's path to Philadelphia has to be blocked.
During Reading's Eastern League championship run, Miller received his first professional opportunity at third base. He started all four playoff games at the hot corner and committed just one error across 36 innings. He also showed some offensive life after returning from his long layoff, going 7-for-24 with three RBIs in seven games with Reading.
That is a very small sample size, but it was an important one.
This allowed the Phillies to see another potential avenue for getting him into the lineup if Turner sticks at short next season, although Turner’s position on the infield is to be determined going forward after his rough season.
Third base could be the most natural landing spot, with Alec Bohm becoming a free agent and unlikely to resign with the team. Second base is another possibility if the Phillies believe Miller's athleticism and defensive instincts can translate there. He hasn't established himself at second base professionally yet, so that would be more of an experiment than his shortstop-to-third-base transition.
Philadelphia doesn't necessarily need to find one position for him right now. It needs to find a way to get his bat into the lineup when he's ready.
It's impossible to replace an entire season of at-bats. Miller would have benefited tremendously from playing every day in Triple-A or Double-A this season, seeing better pitching and continuing to refine his approach. If he played well, he may have forced his way on to the big-league roster mid-season.
Instead, he spent most of the year rehabbing.
The Phillies shouldn’t look at his missed time rehabbing as a lack of development and count him out of their big league plans as they make roster moves this season. He already has four years of professional experience. He was an Eastern League Post-Season All-Star in 2025, when he hit .259/.382/.427 with Reading, producing 40 extra-base hits and stealing 52 bases.
The tools that made him a first-round pick in 2023 haven't disappeared. Miller can run, he has power and a strong arm, and he has shown the ability to play shortstop at a high level.
The Phillies are giving him another opportunity to get those reps in the Arizona Fall League, where he can continue making up for some of the development time he lost. That could prove to be extremely important heading into spring training.
The Phillies don't have to look very far around Major League Baseball to see how quickly a talented young player can go from prospect to legitimate contributor.
Nick Kurtz went from being drafted in 2024 to making his MLB debut with the Athletics in April 2025 and immediately became one of the most dangerous young hitters in baseball.
Roman Anthony followed a similar path with Boston, reaching the majors in June 2025 and immediately looking like someone who belonged.
Colson Montgomery joined the White Sox later that summer and hit 21 home runs in just 71 games.
Then there were players like Konnor Griffin, who moved extremely quickly through the Pirates' system and was promoted to the Major Leagues early in 2026. MLB Pipeline has continued to highlight just how many young players are now making immediate impacts after aggressive promotions.
Development isn't always linear; a player can lose a season and still come back the following year and make a massive jump.
We've seen it happen, and Miller has the pedigree and tools to potentially be one of those players.
The Phillies don't necessarily have to go outside the organization to find their next everyday infielder.
If he comes into spring training healthy and looks like the player the organization believed he could become before the injury, suddenly the Phillies have options. Maybe he forces his way into the third-base conversation. Maybe he spends time at third and shortstop while getting some work at second. Maybe he begins the season in Triple-A and forces the Phillies' hand with his performance.
Miller doesn't necessarily need a position to be handed to him; he just needs an opportunity. If the bat is ready, the Phillies can figure out where to put him.
Considering how quickly some of baseball's top young players have gone from the Minors to becoming major pieces for their teams, it would be a mistake to assume Miller needs years to catch up.
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