Philly Leader

Andrew Painter, a prominent baseball prospect, has been named the Arizona Fall League's Pitcher of the Year following his return to competitive play after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Painter, ranked as the No. 32 prospect in baseball, made his comeback in the Arizona Fall League with an impressive performance that earned him this accolade.

Painter expressed his goals for the fall league: “Coming in here, I just wanted to compete and get a feel for my stuff, feel confident going into ’25 and walk out healthy.” His statistics over 15 2/3 innings included a 2.30 ERA, .189 batting average against opponents, and an 18/4 K/BB ratio. Remarkably efficient on the mound, he led the league with only 13.98 pitches per inning.

Luke Murton, Phillies' new farm director, commented on Painter's performance: “The thing with him going out there was to regain his health... He didn’t miss a beat." Painter's arsenal includes a newly developed slider which proved effective during games. "I feel great about the slider,” said Painter regarding his new pitch.

Dave Dombrowski of the Phillies anticipates that Painter will join their major league staff next season. Murton noted that discussions will be held during offseason planning: “This offseason we’ll be sitting down with the group and will talk about what’s the best thing for him moving forward."

Painter's recent achievements have solidified his standing among pitching prospects according to Murton: “From my perspective, Painter would be the top pitching prospect." The young pitcher has demonstrated both talent and work ethic during his rehabilitation process.

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