Philly Leader

Andrew Painter has made a significant impression in the Arizona Fall League (AFL) this year, demonstrating why he is regarded as one of baseball's top pitching prospects. Despite not having pitched competitively since March 1, 2023, due to a right elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery, Painter has shown promise in his recent performances.

Painter, who is 21 years old and ranked as the Phillies' No. 2 prospect and the No. 32 prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline, concluded his AFL stint with a strong showing. In his sixth and final start on Tuesday, he allowed two hits, one earned run, and two walks over 2 2/3 innings while striking out six batters.

Over six starts in the AFL, Painter recorded a 2-0 record with a 2.30 ERA. He struck out 18 batters and walked four across 15 2/3 innings, holding opponents to a .189 batting average.

“Coming in here, I just wanted to compete and get a feel for my stuff, feel confident going into ’25 and walk out healthy,” Painter told MLB.com’s Jim Callis on Tuesday. “It felt great. You can’t simulate it in bullpens and everything back at the complex. The adrenaline kicked in and did its part. Everything felt good, and I feel really good moving forward.”

During his final start, Painter's fastball reached speeds of up to 99 mph. He also effectively utilized his slider, curveball, and changeup throughout the game.

Despite these promising developments, it remains unlikely that Painter will make the Phillies' Opening Day roster due to workload management concerns after missing two Minor League seasons. However, there is optimism that he will join the Phillies’ rotation during the 2025 season.

“We don’t have a fifth starter right now,” Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said earlier this month at the GM Meetings. “I think we have a fifth starter waiting in the wings [in Painter] who’s going to be outstanding. But the problem is he’s not going to be able to pitch 180 innings."

The Phillies are considering various options for their starting rotation next season which could include Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sánchez, and Ranger Suárez as potential starters. There is speculation about possible trades involving Suárez given his impending free agency after the 2025 season.

Philadelphia aims to rely on its top prospects like Painter for sustained success and long-term organizational health as they strive to keep their World Series championship window open.