LOS ANGELES — There seems to be a new wrinkle in the updates around Aidan Miller every few weeks. On May 19, interim manager Don Mattingly said the Phillies’ top-ranked prospect was beginning “light baseball activity” and that the organization was moving in the “right direction” with his recovery from a back injury. On Sunday at Dodger Stadium, Phillies general manager Preston Mattingly offered a different kind of update. Miller is not currently participating in baseball activities. “I think we’re leaning on medical,” Preston Mattingly said. “Still just doing his rehab program at this point. Not baseball activities, but as we’ve seen over the years, that could change pretty quickly here.” Miller, who has not played a game in his fourth professional season, has been working through a back issue since Spring Training. The soon-to-be 22-year-old shortstop missed all of Grapefruit League play and has yet to appear for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The GM said that the work has still been limited. “I know he’s been playing catch throughout the year,” Mattingly said. “He’s doing his ground ball routine, things like that. I think when things come up, nothing anything’s happened, but you just want to keep doing checkpoints throughout the year to make sure everything’s trending the way we want to, and then kind of proceed from there.” The key part: Miller has not swung a bat. “No,” Mattingly said when asked if Miller had swung at all. Miller has been doing his work at the Phillies’ complex in Clearwater. The organization is continuing to lean on its medical staff before clearing him to ramp back up. “Whenever they feel like he’s cleared and to ramp up baseball activities, that’s what we’re going to do,” Mattingly said. “So we’re kind of leaning on medical for everything with Aidan.” The Phillies remain confident that Miller will play in a game this season, though there is no firm timeline. “Yeah, I think we’re optimistic he’s going to play in a game too,” Mattingly said. Miller dealt with a back issue last year as well, but still put together a strong season between Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He slashed .264/.392/.433 with 43 extra-base hits and 59 stolen bases in 116 games. His finish created much of the anticipation entering this season. Over the final two months, Miller posted an OPS over 1.100 and had 22 extra-base hits in his final 36 games. Instead, his 2026 season has not started. Mattingly said there is no more specific diagnosis beyond the back soreness that has already been discussed. “No diagnosis,” he said. He has not spoken personally with Miller about the process, but understands the frustration that comes with it. “Just knowing the kid from the Minor Leagues, he’s a very competitive person who loves to play baseball,” Mattingly said. “I’m sure, like anybody who’s on the IL, it’s tough. You want to be out there with your guys, with your team.” That is especially true for a player at Miller’s stage. Before the injury, there was a real chance his performance could force a bigger conversation at some point this summer. For now, that is on hold. “He’s at a stage where he’s knocking on the door and kind of looking to keep getting better every year and get up here,” Mattingly said. “So I’m sure he’s really frustrated.” ...read more read less