Phillies prospects Aidan Miller, Justin Crawford impress on Spring Breakout stage

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Aidan Miller looked like a natural as he charged down the third-base line, cleanly fielded a dribbler and fired a strike to first base from a side-arm angle in the ninth inning on Friday afternoon. Sure, he’s only played shortstop since he was drafted in the first round by the Phillies in 2023, but he started taking grounders at the hot corner this week when he found out he’d be manning third for the second half of the Spring Breakout game at BayCare Ballpark. He seemed to get used to it pretty quickly.

Miller, a 20-year-old known more for his advanced right-handed bat, impressed on defense as a collection of Phillies minor leaguers defeated a group of top Pirates prospects, 5-3, in the second annual edition of this contest put on around Major League Baseball to showcase young players. In addition to his play at third, he made a highlight at shortstop in the fourth inning, ranging to his right and throwing out a runner from the hole.

Miller may end up at third base in the long run, but for now he’s a shortstop. He looked pretty capable at both spots during the Breakout.

“I played third base in high school,” Miller said, “so it was a pretty easy transition back over there. I’m an athlete. I think I’m a utility player, so I can play anywhere and feel comfortable anywhere.”

While Miller went hitless in four at-bats, center fielder Justin Crawford, Philadelphia’s first-round pick in 2022, had a great day offensively and made plays with his speed. He went 2-for-4 with an infield single, a triple off the left-field wall and a stolen base. He put pressure on the Pirates.

Both Miller and Crawford finished last season at Double-A Reading, and they’re advancing through the system. They probably won’t be ready to play in the majors this year, but the Phillies consider them important big-league pieces of the future. The two demonstrated some reasons why on Friday.

“Just trying to just go out there and show what we can do,” Crawford said. “Everybody was fortunate enough to get this opportunity to come out and just kind of display our game. And hopefully one day, if we keep chipping away, we could get there.”

Other players popped for the Phillies as well. Eduardo Tait, an 18-year-old catcher, threw out a runner trying to steal second with a dart to the bag. Gabriel Rincones Jr. legged out a double after flashing his power in major-league camp earlier this spring. Aroon Escobar doubled and Carson DeMartini homered. Right-hander Moisés Chace looked sharp in a clean inning after finding out he was going to start the day prior.

“They gave me a call when I was home,” Chace said through a team interpreter. “It was kind of just, ‘All right, let’s do it.'”

The Phillies acquired Chace, 21, last season in a trade-deadline deal that sent reliever Gregory Soto to the Orioles. He rose from High-A to Double-A and put up gaudy strikeout numbers to end the year. Chace was behind to begin the spring, citing some family matters, but he’s coming along. He’s adding a cutter and recorded one of his two strikeouts on the pitch on Friday. The Phillies have encouraged him to keep his fastball up in the strike zone to play off his slider. It came together for an inning against Pittsburgh.

“It was my first experience with the Spring Breakout game,” Chace said, “and it was just a beautiful experience.”

The Spring Breakout was not the most outstanding game ever played. Pitchers lost their control during some innings. Five batters were hit by pitches, and two passed balls got by the catchers. The youth and inexperience was apparent at times.

Still, the event provided a unique honor that the players appeared to enjoy. They played in front of a larger crowd than the minor leaguers typically get to see during their games on the back fields in spring training. They played with and against the best prospects throughout each of the two organizations. Many players brought their families onto the field once the game concluded to take photos and celebrate the occasion.

“It was a great overall experience,” Chace said. “I just enjoyed being around the best of the best, and I loved to compete. I’m just really happy to be here for myself, for my family… It’s a moment I’m embracing.”