Feb 25, 2025; Port Charlotte, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson (96) slides safely into second base against Philadelphia Phillies infielder Aidan Miller (81) at Charlotte Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
The Spring Breakout is back for it's second year - where the current stars of minor league baseball and future stars of the majors, face off against one another in a series of exhibition games in Florida and Arizona this weekend.
Starting today, and running through Sunday, 16 games, featuring prospects from all 30 major league clubs, will take place with fans getting a glimpse of each team's best-on-best from a prospect perspective.
The Phillies prospects will host the Pirates prospects on Friday afternoon at Bay Care Ballpark.
While the Phillies won't have top prospect Andrew Painter participating as the plan is for him to ramp up his pitching program a little bit later than everyone else so he could ascend to the majors sometime this summer, there will be plenty of promising young players participating in the game.
For the Phillies, this conversation always starts with two names - Aidan Miller and Justin Crawford.
Miller, who many believe is the heir apparent at shortstop - and maybe sooner rather than later if Trea Turner continues to scuffle defensively, prompting a move to the outfield - is one of four Phillies prospects ranked in MLB Pipeline's Top 100 prospects in the sport (No. 27).
Aidan Miller rakes.
pic.twitter.com/2YRWia4V71
Crawford, who is a future centerfielder, is an electric player with tone-setting ability. Like Miller, he too is ranked among the Top 100 prospects in the sport, coming in at No. 63 on MLB Pipeline's list.
Both Crawford and Miller were with the Phillies for a time in Spring Training as non-roster invitees and got to experience what it was like in Big League camp for a few weeks before being sent back to the minor league camp. It's unlikely, but not completely out of the question, that either or both of of them debut in the majors this season, but 2026 is a very real possibility for both.
Prospect highlight: Phillies #3 ranked Justin Crawford, OF
Between A+/AA in 2024 he hit .313 with 9 HR, 61 RBI, .804 OPS, AND he swiped 42 bases! Crushed .410 in Sep. to finish the season. 21, makes hard contact. Son of Carl Crawford! #RingTheBell #MiLBpic.twitter.com/qsztO89aex
The Phillies have one other Top 100 prospect who will play on Friday, and that's 18-year-old catcher Eduardo Tait.
Tait, who ranks No. 92 on MLB Pipeline's list, has a hit tool that has the organization drooling, and they've wanted him to work on his defensive game - going so far as to have Carlos Ruiz work with him. He's taken strides and his progression looks promising. He may be more of a long-range prospect, but definitely one you should be excited about tracking over the next few seasons.
18 year old Eduardo Tait from Panamá City, Panamá, one of the best prospects to come out of Panamá and the Phillies’ 4th rated prospect, has been mashing in Panamá this winter. He leagues the league in average at .406 and has 2 HR. Panamá’s starting DH at the 2026 WBC pic.twitter.com/bugGFQ5A7m
While Painter and Mick Abel will be present to sign autographs for fans, they will be spectators for the game. Painter's reasoning was defined earlier, Abel's doesn't make as much sense though. The Phillies say Abel is preparing for the season, so he won't pitch in the game, but is that just a cover because he's not pitching well and his star may have fallen a bit? Possibly.
Instead, Phillies fans will get a chance to see Moises Chace, who was an underrated trade acquisition at the deadline last summer. Chace, who was acquired along with Seth Johnson in exchange for Gregory Soto from Baltimore at the deadline, is expected to start. The Phillies think there is something exciting there. Although he is still building up his velocity, Chace pitched a clean inning in his spring debut last week. He has vaulted his way up the Phillies prospect rankings since being acquired, and now sits at No. 5 behind Painter, Miller, Crawford and Tait.
Moises Chace, interesting lad in Phillies camp pic.twitter.com/oslroInv0i
The other interesting pitcher to watch tomorrow will be Jean Cabrera (Phillies No. 11 prospect). The former minor league pitcher of the year (2021) for the organization, Cabrera was added to the Phillies 40-man roster over the winter. That means the team likes his progression as well.
Get used to hearing the name Aroon Escobar. The infielder ranks as the Phillies No. 13 prospect, but he's really caught the eye of a lot of evaluators, and there are some who believe he's on the cusp of breaking into the Top 100 in baseball. He'll likely play either second base or third base long-term.
Another is Devin Saltiban, the Phillies No. 9 prospect. The Phillies have been bullish on his development and they believe the second baseman will be a better hitter the more velocity he sees.
1. Justin Crawford, CF
2. Dante Nori, LF (Phillies' No. 6 prospect, 2023 first round draft pick)
3. Aidan Miller, SS
4. Gabriel Rincones Jr., RF
5. Eduardo Tait, C
6. Devin Saltiban, 2B
7. Otto Kemp, 1B
8. Carson DeMartini, 3B
9. Griffin Burkholder, DH (Phillies' No. 7 prospect, 2024 first round draft pick)
Jean Cabrera, RHP
Mavis Graves, LHP (No. 17 prospect)
Alex McFarlane, RHP (No. 18)
Micah Ottenbreit, RHP (No. 27)
Griff McGarry, RHP (No. 30)
Luis Avila, RHP
Aaron Combs, RHP
Daniel Harper, RHP
Gunner Mayer, RHP
Brad Pachecho, RHP
Casey Steward, RHP
Alirio Ferrebus, C (No. 25)
Jordan Dissin, C
Aroon Escobar, 2B/3B
Bryan Rincon, SS (No. 14)
Keaton Anthony, INF
Hendry Mendez, OF (No. 24)
