Andrew Painter - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Pitching for Single-A club Friday Painter is scheduled to make his first start of the season Friday with Single-A Clearwater, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Impact The Phillies' top pitching prospect, Painter was deemed fully healthy for spring training but didn't see any Grapefruit League action as the organization aimed to ramp him up slowly coming off July 2023 Tommy John surgery. Painter stayed back in Florida at the conclusion of big-league spring training and has been throwing simulated games of late, but he'll now get a chance to test himself in an uncontrolled setting when he reports to the Phillies' Single-A affiliate. The Phillies anticipate Painter being ready to join the big-league rotation at some point this summer, but he'll first need to get some reps in at the minor-league level before receiving a call-up. He'll likely be limited to around two innings Friday and will gradually increase his pitch count in subsequent outings while also eventually moving on to Double-A Reading and/or Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

15 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Pitching for Single-A club Friday Painter is scheduled to make his first start of the season Friday with Single-A Clearwater, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

15 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Nearing rehab assignment Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Friday that Painter (elbow) could begin a rehab assignment soon, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Impact Painter had a two-inning live batting practice session Friday that went well and the next step for the right-hander could be pitching in a game. He is healthy, but Painter is being slow-played by the Phillies as he comes back from Tommy John surgery in July 2023. The top prospect is expected to become an option for the big-league rotation around midseason.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Live BP scheduled for Friday Manager Rob Thomson said Wednesday that Painter is scheduled to throw live batting practice Friday, Destiny Lugardo of Phillies Nation reports.

Impact If all goes well there, the next steps in Painter's throwing progression should become much clearer. "Friday will determine a lot of things," Thomson said. Philadelphia has slow-played Painter's recovery from 2023 Tommy John surgery, and the right-hander's next steps figure to entail a rather lengthy stint in the minor leagues. The 2021 first-rounder represents Philadelphia's top prospect and MLB Pipeline's No. 7 prospect overall for 2025, and he remains on track to get his first taste of major-league action sometime around midseason in 2025. The Phillies do have a loaded rotation and are still likely to continue handling things cautiously with Painter, who hasn't yet pitched at the Triple-A level in his career.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Extended spring games coming soon Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Monday that Painter will begin pitching in extended spring training games in a couple weeks, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com...

Impact Painter is considered healthy, but the Phillies slow-played him this spring after he missed nearly all of the last two seasons due to Tommy John surgery in July 2023. He will build up in extended spring training games and eventually the minors before becoming an option to join the Phillies' rotation around midseason.

MARCH 24 • ROTOWIRE

Throws first spring live BP Painter threw his first live batting practice session of the spring Friday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Impact Painter entered Phillies camp fully healthy, but the club has been slow-playing him this spring after he missed nearly all of the last two seasons due to July 2023 Tommy John surgery. He will not make any Grapefruit League appearances and is expected to remain at extended spring training initially as he continues a slow build-up. Painter could be a rotation option for the Phillies around midseason.

MARCH 14 • ROTOWIRE

Changes up repertoire, preparations Painter has ditched his cutter and added a changeup as his fourth pitch, per Matt Gelb of The Athletic.

Impact Painter is in camp with the big-league club but will not pitch in spring games, as the Phillies look to preserve the workload of their prized prospect in his return from 2023 Tommy John surgery. The 21-year-old threw 15.2 frames in the Arizona Fall League last year, posting a 2.30 ERA and 18:4 K:BB, and he impressed his pitching coach, Caleb Cotham, in the process with a refined pitch mix that Painter is expected to carry forward into 2025. Painter is also reportedly throwing bullpens at a lower intensity this spring compared to past camps as he prepares to make his major-league debut this summer. Gelb previously suggested back in January that 80 or so big-league innings could be the target for Painter in his debut season.

FEBRUARY 26 • ROTOWIRE

Invited to spring training The Phillies have extended Painter an invitation to big-league camp during spring training, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Impact While Painter will be in major-league camp, he will not appear in any Grapefruit League games, as the Phillies plan to ramp him up slowly as he makes his way back from July 2023 Tommy John surgery. The right-hander didn't throw any innings in 2023 and tossed just 15.2 frames in the Arizona Fall League in 2024. He's not expected to be an option for the Phillies' rotation until around midseason. Fellow top prospects Justin Crawford and Aidan Miller were also invited to big-league camp by the Phillies.

JANUARY 14 • ROTOWIRE

Not expected in majors until July Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Monday that Painter (elbow) likely won't pitch in the majors until "July-ish," Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Impact Coming back from Tommy John surgery, Painter will be held out of spring training action before eventually getting ramped up in the minors. The young right-hander threw 103.2 innings in 2022 and none in 2023 before tossing just 15.2 frames in the Arizona Fall League this year. The Phillies further bolstered their rotation depth with their recent trade for Jesus Luzardo and signing of swingman Joe Ross, giving them the protection they need in order to proceed cautiously with Painter.

DECEMBER 23, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Could be held out of exhibitions The Phillies might hold Painter out of Grapefruit League games in order to preserve his workload, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Impact Painter hasn't pitched in a minor-league game since 2022 due to recovery from Tommy John surgery, so he's going to have his innings closely monitored in 2024. The most likely scenario appears to be him remaining in extended spring training for a slow ramp-up so he can be available for the Phillies later in the season. However, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said earlier this month that no decisions have been made in regards to how Painter will be handled. The top prospect dazzled during Arizona Fall League play, posting a 2.30 ERA and 18:4 K:BB over 15.2 frames.

NOVEMBER 21, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Back to form Painter has a 2.08 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 12 strikeouts and two walks in 13 innings through five Arizona Fall League starts.

Impact He last pitched three scoreless and hitless frames Nov. 5, and could make a final AFL appearance this week. Prior to the fall league, Painter hadn't pitched since 2022, yet he leads qualified AFL pitchers in ERA and WHIP. He has used all four of his pitches this fall, with his four-seam fastball up to 99 mph and averaging 97 mph, per Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com. His stuff is all the way back, and so is his control, which was part of what made Painter such a special prospect before Tommy John surgery. It's unclear if the Phillies will ease Painter into action at Triple-A or give him a shot to win a job in the big-league rotation out of spring training. He threw 103.2 innings in 2022, and will finish with just under 20 innings this fall, so a capped, unpredictable workload is the main drawback with the 21-year-old righty in redraft leagues.

NOVEMBER 11, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Added to AFL roster Painter (elbow) will pitch for the Glendale Desert Dogs in the Arizona Fall League, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Impact Painter began throwing off a mound in July as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery and the Phillies have decided to send their top pitching prospect to the AFL so he can face hitters prior to the offseason. It will be his first game action since 2022. Provided he makes a full recovery and regains his pre-surgery stuff, Painter is a good bet to contribute in the majors at some point in 2025.

OCTOBER 7, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Throwing off mound Painter (elbow) progressed to throwing off a mound in Clearwater in July but will not return to game action until the 2025 season, MLB.com reports.

Impact Given that Painter had Tommy John surgery in late-July 2023, it was always unlikely we'd see back in game action until 2025. He should have time to be fully recovered and a full-go for spring training. Painter threw 103.2 innings in 2022 and it's tough to predict how many innings he'll throw next season after not pitching at all for two years. However, if he makes a full recovery, he won't need much more developmental time in the minors.

AUGUST 29, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Tommy John surgery Tuesday Painter is undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow Tuesday in Los Angeles, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Impact It was already announced last week that Painter would require the reconstructive elbow procedure. Given the timing here, it's likely that the talented young right-hander won't pitch in a live game again until late 2024 or even early 2025. There had been talk of him making his MLB debut with the Phillies around the beginning of the 2023 campaign, before his elbow began barking during spring training.

JULY 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Phillies doctors recommend elbow surgery for top prospect Andrew Painter

Right-handed pitcher Andrew Painter, a top prospect who hit 100 mph in spring training, may need UCL reconstruction.

JULY 19, 2023

Phillies doctors recommend elbow surgery for top prospect Andrew Painter

Tommy John surgery recommended Tommy John surgery has been recommended for Painter (elbow) following a surgical consultation with Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Monday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Impact Painter was first diagnosed with a partially torn UCL in his right elbow back in early March. While it looked at times like he might be able to successfully rehab the injury, he had a setback while facing hitters earlier this month and it looks like he'll ultimately require surgery. An operation would prevent the top prospect from pitching at least until late 2024 and perhaps not until 2025.

JULY 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Tests reveal positive results Tests on Painter's right elbow revealed healing in his UCL, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Impact Painter will remain shut down from throwing for now, but he and the Phillies can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that Tommy John surgery won't be necessary. The 20-year-old righty has spent all season rehabbing a sprained UCL and remains on track to pitch later this season -- though no official timeline has been established.

JULY 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Undergoing tests for sore elbow Painter will undergo testing due to renewed right elbow discomfort, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Impact Painter had to be scratched from a throwing session earlier this week due to elbow stiffness, but he was able to return to the mound with a bullpen session Wednesday. However, evidently he did not bounce back as hoped. The young hurler had been working his way back from a partially torn UCL and with this setback the worry now has to be that Tommy John surgery could be looming.

JULY 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Throws bullpen session Painter (elbow) threw a bullpen session at the Phillies' spring training complex in Florida on Wednesday, Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Impact Painter had to be scratched from a throwing session earlier this week due to stiffness in his right elbow, so it's a great sign that he's already back on the mound. "We'll see how he comes in the next day or two," said manager Rob Thomson. It's not clear when Painter might be ready for a rehab assignment, but the team is still holding out hope that he can be an option for their rotation later this season. He's working his way back from a partially torn UCL.

JULY 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Experiencing stiffness Painter (elbow) did not throw live batting practice Tuesday because of some stiffness, Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Impact Painter was scheduled to face live hitters for the first time since he suffered a sprained UCL in March, but the Phillies don't want to push the 20-year-old right-hander until he is fully free of any discomfort. "As of now, no, I don't have any concern," manager Rob Thomson told reporters Tuesday afternoon. "We just want to make sure that stiffness gets out and we move forward."

JULY 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Live BP on tap Painter (elbow) is expected to throw live batting practice Tuesday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Impact The right-hander has been building up his arm in bullpen sessions over the past few weeks and has now been cleared to face live hitters. Painter could soon progress to a simulated game or a minor-league rehab assignment if all goes well during Tuesday's session.

JULY 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Another bullpen session Painter (elbow) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Impact Painter could soon advance to facing live hitters as he continues to make slow but steady progress in his recovery from a sprained UCL in his right elbow. The 20-year-old top prospect still has a shot at making his MLB debut at some point before the end of the 2023 season.

JUNE 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Completes 20-pitch bullpen session Painter (elbow) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session Tuesday at the Phillies' spring training complex in Florida, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Impact Painter is now scheduled to throw another bullpen session Friday. The right-hander is making steady progress from the sprained UCL that has sidelined him throughout the 2023 campaign. Painter will likely need a few more bullpen sessions before starting a rehab assignment, but he does have a chance to make starts for Philadelphia before the season comes to a conclusion.

JUNE 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Throws 20-pitch bullpen session Painter (elbow) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session Saturday, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Impact Painter entered spring training with a shot to crack the Phillies' Opening Day rotation as a teenager, but a sprained UCL derailed those plans. He avoided surgery and has been steadily building up over the last two months. He began playing catch in early April and had worked his way to bullpen sessions by late May, though those came from the front of the mound. He's ready for the real thing now, but still has steps to go in his recovery before the Phillies consider activating him from the injured list.

JUNE 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Throwing bullpen sessions Painter (elbow) has begun throwing "short" bullpen sessions, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Impact Painter has progressed from long toss to throwing from the front of the mound, roughly 50-to-55 feet away from the plate. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said that he expects Painter to pitch in game action this season -- potentially for the big-league club. On the other hand, he also reiterated that the team is being very careful with its top pitching prospect and that there is still plenty of progress to be made in his recovery.

MAY 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

ANDREW PAINTER NEWS

NEWS

BIO

STATS

VIDEOS

GAME LOG

INJURIES

Phillies doctors recommend elbow surgery for top prospect Andrew Painter