Overview
- The Phillies announced Wednesday that 21-year-old Aidan Miller was diagnosed with discogenic pain and facet inflammation in his lower back and will have a minimally invasive radiofrequency ablation on Friday.
- Team and independent spine specialists recommended the outpatient RFA, which uses heat to disrupt pain signals from the facet joints and is followed by one week of rest and then rehab.
- The club set a goal of returning Miller to game activity in six to eight weeks, a timeline that makes a 2026 major-league debut unlikely or likely late in the season.
- Miller is the Phillies’ top prospect and a top-30 MLB prospect whose absence affects infield depth, leaves him blocked at shortstop by Trea Turner, and could shift the team’s roster or trade plans before the August deadline.
- Miller played through lower-back soreness in late 2025, missed part of Triple-A and the Arizona Fall League, and the club says the conservative procedure was chosen to prioritize his long-term health and development.