There is a lot of hype and expectation surrounding Aidan Miller. Being the 27th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft and regarded as one of the top high school players in his class, a Futures Game participant last season, and being a consensus Top 100 prospect since becoming a pro will warrant that type of attention and excitement. For the 21-year-old shortstop, he is putting it all together, making it a memorable second half to close out this season.
Struggles to start
Miller was assigned to Double-A Reading to start the season after playing in five games at the level to close out last season. Opening up the 2025 season in the Eastern League at 20 years old, he was one of the youngest players at the level across three leagues. It was a bumpy start for the #2 prospect in the Phillies’ system.
After homering in a two-hit debut, Miller went on a 1-for-24 skid over the next six games with 10 strikeouts. That would be a recurring theme for the shortstop during the first half, going on cold spells, then quelling them with a few good games in a row. In mid-June, he missed over a week due to what was described as skin irritation.
Overall, Miller put up a .234/.354/.379 slash line with a .733 OPS. He has nine doubles, two triples, eight homers, and 22 RBI, but a 26% strikeout rate. Adding to that, the thought in every top prospect’s mind that they could be the headline piece in a deal as the trade deadline approached can shift focus on whether or not a player will be brought into his manager’s office to be told he has to pack up his belongings and get on a flight to join a new team in a new city.
Something Miller said he tried he consciously tried to ignore.
“I try not to be on (social media) too much, especially during the trade deadline, because nobody really knows what’s going to happen until it happens,” Miller said to Aiden Setpansky of the Reading Fightin Phils. “If I do end up being traded, I’m sure it’ll be a good situation. But I want to be here in Philly.”
On fire post trade deadline
The trade deadline was nearly a month ago, and it coincidentally marked the beginning of Miller’s torrid stretch at the plate. Since August 1, the talented infielder has been putting up numbers that the Phillies and fans were waiting for with his 55-grade hit tool and 60-grade power. In his last 21 games, he has posted an impressive 1.125 OPS in 85 at-bats. He’s hitting .365 with an eye-popping .466 on-base percentage. He has only five more strikeouts (17) than walks (12) in 103 plate appearances to go with 13 doubles, four homers, and 16 RBIs.
Miller has picked up a hit in 17 of 21 games this month with 10 multi-hit games, including four, three-hit efforts during this red-hot stretch.
With his efforts at the plate, he has been named the Eastern League Hitter of the Week twice this month, most recently earning the honor on Monday.
Miller also has been a menace on the basepaths this month, swiping 13 bases while only being caught three times, and is one stolen base away from setting a new Reading record after tying the franchise watermark, which was set in 1987, Tuesday night with his 50th stolen base of the season.
Phillies Farm Director Luke Murton said that it just took a little longer for the prized prospect to find his feet.
“I think he is a very talented player. I think it has taken him a little longer at a new level to get settled in,” Murton said on The Phillies Show.
“Expectations are extremely high for him, and they should be. He’s very talented. He was kind of surviving at the level, and what I mean by that he’s 21-years-old with a .700-.720 OPS and stealing a lot of bags. He’s on a hot streak now and figuring out some more things about himself and understanding who he is. He’s really taking off.”
Looking ahead
The Phillies believe that what Miller has shown this year with the bat and his glove is that he could stick at shortstop after there were some varying opinions across the league about whether he could stay at the position. He does have 19 errors this season after having 20 last year, so there is still room for improvement with the leather, but he has shown his athleticism at the position.
Trea Turner has the position anchored down for the time being, but Miller’s impressive close to this season certainly raises his already high stock and can position him for a 2026 start in Triple-A Lehigh Valley. If Miller is able to handle himself at the highest level of the minor leagues, he could position himself for a potential call-up at some point next season. For now, he is looking to continue to stay on this month-long heater over the final three weeks of the campaign.
