Philly Leader

Dave Dombrowski is cautiously optimistic about the performance and progression of Andrew Painter, the Philadelphia Phillies' top pitching prospect who recently returned to the mound with Single-A Clearwater. Painter impressed with his performance last Friday, leaving strong impressions. Dombrowski noted, “He was a little amped up, which was understandable... But he threw the ball very well. His velocity was good. His pitches were good."

Painter, ranked as baseball’s No. 7 prospect by MLB Pipeline, is expected to join the Phillies' rotation later this summer, possibly around July. However, he first needs to prove his readiness following Tommy John surgery in July 2023. Painter’s first Minor League game since 2022 showed promising results, despite allowing two hits and two runs in 1 1/3 innings, striking out three with a fastball that pushed 100 mph.

The Phillies plan to cautiously build up Painter's innings to preserve his efficacy for the season. Rob Thomson, the Phillies' manager, anticipates Painter may manage three innings and 50 pitches in his next start. Dombrowski stated, “From a health perspective,...we’re also trying to preserve innings for later in the season.”

As a consistent starter, Painter is not considered for bullpen duties, despite other young pitchers beginning there before moving into the rotation. Dombrowski confirmed, “Painter is not going to pitch out of the bullpen.” Ranger Suárez, another pitcher in rehab, is also not slated for bullpen duty, though he's familiar with the role. Dombrowski added, “I’m not going to say never...but when you say could he ever? Well, that’s a long time.”

The Phillies are more confident in their pitching roster this year thanks to players like Taijuan Walker and others contributing from the Minors. “We’re about as comfortable as you can be... We’ve got more depth than we’ve had,” Dombrowski noted, citing Triple-A and Double-A talent ready to step up if needed.