Philly Leader

The Philadelphia Phillies are looking forward to a potential solution for their pitching challenges in the upcoming season. Andrew Painter, a 21-year-old top pitching prospect, is set to make significant strides towards joining the team's rotation in 2025. Painter, ranked as Philadelphia's No. 1 pitching prospect and the No. 32 prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline, has been recovering from Tommy John surgery since July 2023.

Painter will soon join the Glendale Desert Dogs in the Arizona Fall League (AFL) as part of his rehabilitation process. The Phillies plan for him to pitch two innings this Saturday and aim for him to complete around 20 innings by the end of the AFL season.

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski expressed confidence in Painter's readiness for this next step: “I think he’s definitely ready for this step,” Dombrowski stated at Citi Field. He noted that reports indicate Painter hasn't lost his touch despite his injury hiatus.

Dombrowski is optimistic about Painter's potential contribution at the major league level next year: “I do think he’ll be pitching at the big league level at some point in `25.” However, he emphasized that Painter's progress will be closely monitored by both the Phillies' athletic training staff and Aaron Barrett, their Minor League rehab pitching coordinator.

“He’s had no pain,” Dombrowski said regarding Painter's recovery. He acknowledged that while there might be occasional stiffness typical of any pitcher, it is reassuring for both Painter and the team that he remains pain-free.

After his stint in the AFL, further decisions will be made about Painter’s future involvement with the team. Dombrowski explained that they need to determine how best to manage his limited innings next year: “We’re going to have to figure out how we get him to pitch next year.”

While it's possible for Painter to start with the Phillies next season, it seems unlikely due to his lack of regular play since 2022. Dombrowski highlighted concerns over inning limits affecting his availability later in the season: “Do we want him to do that? Because if he does that then he won’t be pitching in September because of the limits.”

Painter is eager to return to action and face hitters before heading into offseason preparations. “They said he’s ready to go,” Dombrowski confirmed.