As the chill of winter envelops the Eastern Seaboard, excitement brews on the horizon as spring training draws near. With just under three weeks until pitchers and catchers make their way to Clearwater, Florida, the Philadelphia Phillies have revealed their official list of non-roster invitees for spring training. This announcement is a significant moment for fans eager to see promising talent take the field.
Among the 27 players invited, two names stand out: Justin Crawford and Aidan Miller. These top prospects are generating buzz among Phillies supporters, who are keen to watch their development closely.
For those who might not be familiar with the specifics, players on the 40-man roster automatically participate in major league spring training. However, those not included on the 40-man roster require special invitations to join the camp. While a select few non-roster players may be vying for a position on Opening Day, many will use this opportunity to showcase their skills for future prospects, either with the Phillies or other teams.
Crawford and Miller will share the spotlight with Andrew Painter, another highly regarded pitching prospect already on the 40-man roster. Together, they represent some of the most exciting young talent that fans can look forward to observing during training.
The complete list of non-roster invitees includes:
Pitchers (9): Left-handers - Génesis Cabrera, Tucker Davidson, Tim Mayza, and Andrew Walling. Right-handers - Andrew Bechtold, Jonathan Hernandez, Michael Mercado, Trevor Richards, and Bryse Wilson.
Catchers: Kehden Hettiger, Mark Kolozsvary, Paul McIntosh, René Pinto, Caleb Ricketts.
Infielders: Keaton Anthony, Christian Cairo, Carson DeMartini, Aroon Escobar, Aidan Miller, Liover Peguero, Bryan Rincon, José Rodríguez.
Outfielders: Dylan Campbell, Justin Crawford, Bryan De La Cruz, Dante Nori.
Utility Player: Felix Reyes.
Justin Crawford, who recently celebrated his 22nd birthday, is being positioned as a candidate for the Opening Day center field role. Drafted as the first pick in 2022, he is currently ranked as the Phillies' third-best prospect according to MLB Pipeline, although opinions vary on whether his skills will translate to major league success.
Known for his exceptional speed and impressive batting power, Crawford faces challenges due to his tendency to hit ground balls—an aspect of his game that could limit his effectiveness at the highest level. Nonetheless, his abilities cannot be overlooked; he led the Triple-A International League in 2025 with a remarkable .334 batting average, an OPS of .863, seven home runs, and 46 stolen bases.
As the son of former MLB star Carl Crawford, he has demonstrated he has nothing left to prove in the minors. The Phillies are optimistic that his talents will secure him a regular spot in their lineup for the upcoming season.
Aidan Miller, at 21 years old, stands as the Phillies' second-highest prospect and is certainly one to watch during training. Although the team does not currently have a vacancy on the infield for this talented shortstop, this spring training could serve as a vital audition for a potential call-up later in the season.
Miller faced difficulties early in the 2025 season while playing for Double-A Jersey Shore, but he made a remarkable turnaround with a scorching performance over a 31-game stretch from late July to early September, hitting .361 and boasting an OPS of 1.100. He capped off his year with a brief yet impressive showing at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he maintained a .333 average and a 1.032 OPS over eight games.
Notably, the Phillies have expressed willingness to transition Miller to a different infield position, possibly second or third base, considering Trea Turner is firmly established at shortstop. It will be intriguing to see if the coaching staff begins his transition during the Clearwater sessions.
Phillies fans are excitedly anticipating the contributions of both Crawford and Miller in the forthcoming Grapefruit League action, as they aim to make their mark in spring training games.
So, what do you think about these up-and-coming talents? Are you excited to see how they perform this spring? Join the conversation and share your thoughts!
