The Phillies are on the board with their first pick of the 2023 MLB Draft.
Usually, the team that loses the World Series is slotted into the 29th pick in the MLB First-Year Player Draft. Thanks to the spending ways of the Dodgers and Mets, the Phillies found themselves with the 27th overall pick.
Phillies first-round selection
With that pick, Philadelphia selected Aidan Miller. Miller was listed as a 3B but was selected as a SS. He’s a 19-year-old out of JW Mitchell High School in Florida. On MLB.com, he was listed as the 13th-best draft prospect on the board. FanGraphs had Miller as the 15th-best player available.
He missed a bunch of his senior year due to a broken hamate bone. Miller has elite bat speed and good raw power. Being just 19, his raw power may evolve into an elite level. His hit tool will most likely need some work. He started high school as a SS but was currently a 3B. That should be where he ends up.
Will he sign with the Phillies sooner than later?
He has a commitment to Arkansas but should sign with the Phillies. The 27th pick has a slot value of $2,968,800. Expect Miller’s bonus to be around that number.
Last year, the Phils selected Justin Crawford with the 17th overall pick in 2022. Drafting a hitter out of high school is usually a high risk but Crawford started the All-Star Futures Game representing the Phightins in 2023. Crawford is currently hitting .345 with 35 stolen bases.
The Phillies will hope that Miller finds a similar level of success as Crawford. Like Crawford, Miller will most likely start his professional career in the Florida Complex League.
Philadelphia will pick next in the 3rd round with the 98th overall pick. They lost their 2nd round pick due to signing Trea Turner.
Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire
