CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Phillies insist there is zero concern about top prospect Aidan Miller's back issue.
However, there is also no timeline for his return to action.
Miller, MLB Pipeline's No. 23 overall prospect, was sent to Philadelphia on Friday to see a team doctor about the recurring back issue that has sidelined him for the past couple of weeks. He also missed the final few games of the 2025 Triple-A season and the entire Arizona Fall League because of his back.
"[He went] just to see another doctor," manager Rob Thomson said. "Just to close the loop on all of the medical people."
COMPLETE PHILLIES PROSPECT COVERAGE
Miller rejoined the team in Clearwater on Saturday, but he remains limited in the work he can do.
"We don't have a timeline," Thomson said. "I mean, he hasn't swung a bat in two weeks, so we just want to get him healthy to where there's no pain and get him back playing again."
For his part, Miller told reporters on Sunday morning that he's feeling better. While the 21-year-old infielder said he didn’t want to get into specifics, he did say that he’s confident it’s not a long-term thing.
That's obviously the main concern at the moment, given the fact that Miller is starting the 2026 season with a similar ailment to the one that ended his '25 campaign prematurely.
"I can’t answer the question that it’s chronic at this point," president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said last week. "Any time a guy’s out with an injury and it comes back, there’s a little concern. But they tell me he’s making progress right now, and hopefully he’ll continue to do so."
It remains unclear at this point if Miller will play in any Grapefruit League games, or if he'll have enough time to get ready for Triple-A Lehigh Valley’s season opener on March 27. The Phillies had planned to get him reps at shortstop and third base throughout the spring, but those plans hit a snag with Miller on the shelf.
Thomson, however, was direct when asked about his level of concern over Miller.
"None," Thomson said. "We'll take care of him."