A rising talent in the Philadelphia Phillies’ minor league system is making waves, drawing attention from scouts and fans alike as a potential future solution at the catcher position.
Eduardo Tait has surged up Baseball America’s Top 100 prospect rankings, jumping from No. 88 to No. 67 one of the biggest climbs in the latest update. He joins fellow Phillies prospects Andrew Painter (No. 14), Aidan Miller (No. 48), and Justin Crawford (No. 88) on the list, all showing steady development.
Tait’s impressive leap is largely due to his power and hitting consistency. In just 23 games for the Single-A Clearwater Threshers this season, the 18-year-old has already hit six home runs. His offensive metrics are also strong, with a max exit velocity of 113.8 mph, a 43.7% hard-hit rate, and a 14.5% barrel rate. He’s quickly building a reputation for launching home runs in the first inning.
Signed out of Panama in 2023 for $90,000, Tait has proven to be a wise investment. Over three seasons, he’s batting .301 with 20 home runs and 128 RBIs across 146 games. While his defense behind the plate still needs refinement he’s made 11 errors in 82 games he’s also thrown out 14 baserunners this season and has allowed only one passed ball in 121 innings.
With veteran catcher J.T. Realmuto’s future uncertain he becomes a free agent after this season the Phillies are closely watching their catching pipeline. While Realmuto and the team are open to an extension, no deal is on the horizon. He’s 34, and even if re-signed, Philadelphia will likely begin preparing for life beyond him.
Backup catchers Rafael Marchán and Garrett Stubbs are also nearing the end of their club control years, making it crucial for the Phillies to develop new talent at the position. While Tait is still a few years away from the majors, he’s emerging as a promising long-term option for the team’s future behind the plate.
