Phillies’ prized pitching prospect Andrew Painter set for MLB debut following Tommy John surgery
The 22-year-old — considered to have one of the top arms in any level of baseball — finally is ready for his Phillies debut.
PHILADELPHIA — Andrew Painter threw spring training pitches clocked at 100 mph, underwent Tommy John surgery and spent an unexpected season rehabbing in the minors. The 22-year-old Painter — considered to have one of the top arms in any level of baseball — finally is ready for his Phillies debut. Painter will make his first career big league start Tuesday night against Washington.
“The preparation, everything else is going to be the same,” Painter said. “I’m going to go on the field and treat it like another start. ” Painter was the 13th overall pick in the 2021 amateur draft and signed for a $3.
9 million bonus. He sprinted through Philadelphia’s system in 2022, going 6-2 with a 1. 48 ERA in 26 appearances spread across two Class A teams and Double-A Reading.
He hurt his elbow during spring training in 2023 and had Tommy John surgery later that year. The 6-foot-7 right-hander emerged the top candidate to win the Phillies’ fifth starter job as he attempted to crack the rotation before his 20th birthday. Instead, the injury set him back at least two seasons, and he went 5-8 with a 5.