Report: Phillies Promote Hot Prospects Miller, Klassen

It's typical that around the MLB Amateur Draft that a number of players move up in the system.  An influx of players will create the need to make room at the lower levels, which means some will rise.  But for a couple of Phillies prospects, they are getting promotions with more than a month to go before the July 14 draft.

According to Jim Peyton of Phuture Phillies, the Phillies have promoted both shortstop Aiden Miller and pitcher George Klassen to Class-A Jersey Shore.

Miller started the season hot and has not let up.  In 149 at bats, Miller is batting a solid .275 with five home runs and 26 runs batted in.  His OPS is .884 in his 39 games.

Additionally, having been drafted a third baseman and with plans to split time between shortstop and third base, Miller has been able to stick at the shortstop position.  Miller has appeared at two games at designated hitter, but has yet to man the hot corner.

A bat like Miller's is ever more valuable at the shortstop position, so it seems the Phillies will continue to develop his defense there.

The hitters in the Florida State League seem to be no match for Klassen. In 9 starts, Klassen is 2-0 with a 0.71 earned run average.   Prior to his last start, in which he allowed a season-high two runs, Klassen had an ERA of 0.26. Klassen has struck out 57 in 38 innings.

The Phillies have largely limited the innings Klassen is throwing thus far.  All of his starts since the calendar hit the Month of May have been four innings or less.  This will allow him to pitch deeper into the season as well as take pressure off of his arm, which had some injuries during his college years.

With prospect Justin Crawford already at Jersey Shore, Lakewood, New Jersey could be a fun summer road trip.  Crawford and Miller are consistently marked among the top 5 Phillies prospects.