When was the last time a team that annually competes to go to the World Series had two Top 100 prospects not just competing for a job, but expected to be on the Opening Day roster?
That's what it looks like is going to happen in Philadelphia to kick off the 2026 season. The Phillies have made the postseason the past four years, but they haven't been to the World Series since 2022, so maybe an infusion of talent from the top of their new Top 30 list is exactly what's needed.
Two of the top three, right-hander Andrew Painter and outfielder Justin Crawford, should break camp with the NL East powerhouse. Crawford has every chance to win the center field job and could get eased in at the bottom of the lineup, where he could provide almost a second leadoff type player before it flips over. And with Zack Wheeler on the mend, Painter should at least have some runway to show he's ready to be the Painter of old. Look for him to grab hold of that rotation spot and not let go.
And don't leave out the No. 1 guy. Aidan Miller will start the year where he finished last season, in Triple-A, and if the adjustments he made late last year are for real, he's going to start forcing the Phillies brass' hands soon.
If you want to keep an eye on someone just getting started, look no further than No. 5 Francisco Renteria. He's one of two 2026 international signees to land in his team's top 5, and while he's yet to play an inning of professional baseball and is just 17, the organization is having a hard time containing its excitement over having landed the No. 3 player on the Top 50 International Prospects list.
COMPLETE PHILLIES PROSPECT COVERAGE
Here’s a look at the Phillies top prospects:
1. Aidan Miller, SS (MLB No. 23)
2. Andrew Painter, RHP (MLB No. 28)
3. Justin Crawford, OF (MLB No. 53)
4. Gage Wood, RHP
5. Francisco Renteria, OF
Complete Top 30 list »
Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the 2025 preseason list to the 2026 preseason list:
Jump: Ramon Marquez, RHP (2025: NR | 2026: 11)
To say that Marquez was an under-the-radar international signing in January 2025 would be a huge understatement. He was already 19 and got just $10,000 to sign. The Phillies skipped him over the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League and sent him first to the Florida Complex League. He eventually earned a bump up to full-season Clearwater and he finished the year with a 11.8 K/9 rate while walking just 2.8 per nine over 55 total innings.
Fall: Seth Johnson (2025: 12 | 2026: NR)
Johnson made a positive contribution to the Phillies' big league bullpen last year, with 17 K's 12 2/3 IP, and could contribute again this year. But he's coming off a year that saw him post a 4.75 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in Triple-A. He's already 27, and the concern is if he can find the zone enough to handle meaningful relief innings.
More from MLB Pipeline:
• Top 100 prospects | Stats | Video | Podcast | Complete coverage
Best tools
Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools – 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is plus and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.
Hit: 60 -- Justin Crawford
Power: 60 -- Aidan Miller
Run: 75 -- Justin Crawford
Arm: 60 -- Bryan Rincon (Aidan Miller)
Defense: 60 -- Dante Nori (Bryan Rincon)
Fastball: 70 -- Andrew Painter (Gage Wood)
Curveball: 55 -- Gage Wood (Matthew Fisher)
Slider: 70 -- Gabe Craig
Changeup: 60 -- Ramon Marquez (Jean Cabrera)
Splitter: 60 -- Wen-Hui Pan
Control: 55 -- Sean Youngerman (Andrew Painter, Gage Wood, Gabe Craig)
How they were built
Draft: 20 | International: 8 | Trade: 1 | Free agent: 1
Breakdown by ETA
2026: 7 | 2027: 8 | 2028: 9 | 2029: 3 | 2030: 1 | 2031: 2
Breakdown by position
C: 2 | 1B: 1 | 2B: 1 | 3B: 1 | SS: 5 | OF: 6 | RHP: 11 | LHP: 3