Notebook: Phillies Director of Player Development Luke Murton Talks Aidan Miller, Other Standouts

(Reading, PA) - The Philadelphia Phillies farm system placed 17th in MLB Pipeline’s 2025 preseason ranking. With four top-100 prospects, Andrew Painter and Justin Crawford are currently in Triple-A, Aidan Miller is with the Fightin Phils and 18-year-old Eduardo Tait is with Single-A Clearwater.

As the Phillies Major League squad dances among the top teams in the National League, the IronPigs are off to an International League-best start. In Double-A, Miller and No. 11 prospect Jean Cabrera highlight Reading’s season as the organization overall continues to develop young talent to pair with its veteran core.

The Fightin Phils media team sat down with Director of Player Development Luke Murton to discuss the state of the system and his new role as he visited Reading last week:

Aidan Miller, other R-Phils stick out

Miller is the top position prospect in the Phillies organization and Keith Law of The Athletic recently ranked him as his No. 9 prospect in baseball. After a shaky start to his 2025 campaign, the 2023 first-round pick bounced back in May with a .284 batting average.

Murton said the organization knows they’re testing Miller as one of the youngest position players in the Eastern League, turning 21 years old on June 9. They’ve seen him hold his own and look forward to his growth, building off what he’s already showcased both on and off the field.

“He's the kind of kid you want to have in your organization, from a talent perspective and a person perspective,” Murton said.

Murton also discussed the development of two of the Fightin Phils' top bats this season, Hendry Mendez and Keaton Anthony. Mendez is the Phillies No. 25 prospect and is often batting third in Reading. Murton said Mendez is strong and they see his development in the outfield. Anthony, the Eastern League leader in doubles, could “flat out hit from day one he got here,” Murton added, and he’s continued the trend with his best year yet.

On the pitching side in Reading, Phillies No. 5 prospect Moises Chace will undergo Tommy John after his velocity dipped to start 2025. Murton said while they’re disappointed in the injury, the organization believes he learned how to throw with less velocity, which could help when he returns from injury. For Cabrera, the Phillies No. 11 prospect and a mainstay of the Fightin Phils rotation, Murton has seen him walk more guys than in the past but sees improvement with how quickly he works on the mound.

“He’s very talented, has multiple pitches and does a great job,” Murton said. He’s very competitive out there on the mound, which I love to watch him pitch.”

Murton’s new role

Murton stepped into the Director of Player Development role from the Director of Hitting Development in November. Current General Manager Preston Mattingly previously held the role but was promoted with Sam Fuld pursuing his MBA, before transitioning into the President of Business Operations.

A former Minor Leaguer himself, Murton is building on Mattingly’s organization-wide mantra “Protect the Standard” of how the organization carries itself and plays the game. He said the things players can control, like how they treat people and how they play the game, allow for other tasks to take care of themselves.

“I'm very aligned with what Preston and the group wanted to do. So it was a seamless transition,” Murton said. “I just want to keep it, and it's been this way, but keep it player-centered and for the players, and that we're here to serve them.”

As for the near future, Murton and his staff are preparing for the MLB Draft on July 13 and 14. Scouts are currently at NCAA regionals and super regionals to evaluate talent. Then they’ll have individual workouts with certain players, attend the draft combine from June 17-21 and create their board in the days leading up to selection time. Murton said while his position has changed, the alignment and processes of the organization have largely stayed the same.

“You can always improve in certain aspects from a big picture, culture standpoint. I really think what we're doing is right. What we were doing before was right. So from my perspective, I'm not trying to come in and make it mine as much as, ‘Hey, this is the Philadelphia Phillies and this is what we do.”

Future R-Phils

The Phillies farm system currently has 15 of its top 30 prospects yet to reach Double-A. Many of the prospects will one day play in Baseballtown and Murton sees great progression early in the 2025 campaign.

One of the most intriguing prospects currently in the system is Eduardo Tait out of Panama. Tait is currently playing for the Clearwater Thrashers and is just 18, possibly putting him in line to be the future of the catching position in Reading and eventually Philadelphia.

“Tait is special,” Murton said. “It's a big left-handed hitter with real strength. If you make a mistake, he can hit the ball a long, long way.”

With Tait in Clearwater is 2024 first-round pick Dante Nori. The outfielder got off to a slower start at the plate, but Murton and Co. see him learning and trending up, especially with his career strikeout-to-walk ratio that at nearly 50%.

“He's going to learn to get to a little bit more power,” Murton said. “He has the capacity for the power. And I do think he's on the rise.”

Lehigh Valley's blazing start

The IronPigs impressive start is led by some of the Phillies' top young stars and multiple Fightin Phils alumni. Murton looked into some of the players on the precipice of the Major Leagues, especially Painter. Murton said he thinks the objective for Painter is to simply play the game, and allow everything else to take care of itself through his talent. When his opportunity comes at the highest level, Murton is sure he’ll be ready for it.

Top outfield prospect Crawford hit .333 in 40 games with the Fightin Phils in 2024. With Lehigh Valley, Crawford had already stolen 21 bases and had an impressive .841 OPS through the first 50 games. Murton said they look forward to where Crawford is going based on his ability to hit at every professional level thus far.

“He's one of the most competitive kids I've ever been around,” Murton said. “I think he is ultra-talented and ultra-competitive, and that combination is usually really good.”

Also in the IronPigs lineup are Gabriel Rincones Jr. and Otto Kemp. Murton noted Rincones Jr.’s power against right-handed pitching as a strength. Kemp’s breakout season is one Murton said he deserves, saying his preparation and adjustments are a great example for other players. He also credits the scouting group for acquiring Kemp despite his undervalued status among evaluators.

Pitcher Mick Abel made his second start for the Phillies Wednesday and is another key part of Lehigh Valley’s success. He has a 2.21 ERA in 57.0 innings in Triple-A, and his MLB debut featured a shutout victory over Paul Skenes.

“He's thrown the most innings of anybody from his draft class, from a high school standpoint,” Murton said. “A guy who's willing to take the ball every five days is important. And he's done that, and he's shown improvements this year.”

The Fightin Phils return home from Tuesday, June 10, through Sunday, June 22, against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and Hartford Yard Goats. On Tuesday, the first 2,000 adults receive a R-Phils Throwback Jersey T-Shirt, thanks to Berks County Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities Program. The first 2,000 kids, 12 and under, receive a free Hershey Park admission ticket on Wednesday. Thursday features a Roger Maris bobblehead for the first 2,500 adults, presented by Feesers. The night also includes the 2025 Reading Hall of Fame Induction of Dusty Wathan, Trevor May and Darin Ruf, sponsored by Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center; and the night concludes with fireworks, thanks to your local Kia dealers. Friday showcases fireworks, thanks to Silverline Trailers - Pottstown. Saturday is a Carpenter MEGA Blast Fireworks Show, presented by Diamond Credit Union and a Tribute to Taylor "Swifties Celebration." The series ends Sunday as first 3,000 men, 18 and older, receive a Father's Day Hawaiian Shirt, thanks to Redner's Markets & Quick Stops, "Preferred Grocery Store of the R-Phils." Tickets are available at rphils.com/tickets, by calling 610-370-BALL or at the Customers Bank Ticket Office.

The 2025 R-Phils season is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.