The Philadelphia Phillies’ current plan for top prospect Andrew Painter is the right way to proceed. The 21-year-old right-hander is expected to pitch in the major leagues in 2025. According to a report from Matt Gelb of The Athletic, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski says Painter will not be participating in spring training. Gelb noted that Dombrowski indicated to reporters that July is a rough estimate for Painter’s major league debut. He pitched in the Arizona Fall League earlier this offseason. Painter building up slowly is the best move for his long-term future as well as the team’s. It is necessary to manage the number of innings he pitches at all levels this season. Painter has a bright future ahead and will hopefully be a key starter for the team in the long term.
The goal appears to be to have Painter available for a potential postseason run. He is expected to be on an innings limit in his first season back from Tommy John surgery. The Arizona Fall League appearances were his first in an actual game since 2023 spring training. Painter had a 2-0 record with a 2.30 ERA in six Arizona Fall League outings. This was good enough to be named the league’s Pitcher of the Year. Painter has 26 career minor league starts. In 22 starts in 2022, he had a 6-2 record with a 1.56 ERA across three different minor league levels. He has not pitched in Triple-A yet, but did pitch in the Phillies major league spring training in 2023.
Andrew Painter’s final Arizona Fall League numbers
2-0
2.30 ERA
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Phillies Have Wise Plan for Top Pitching Prospect Andrew Painter
With the signing of Joe Ross and the trade for Jesús Luzardo, the Phillies have improved their pitching depth this offseason. Furthermore, the Phillies have Mick Abel, Seth Johnson, Michael Mercado, and Tyler Phillips already on the 40-man roster. Johnson, Mercado, and Phillips all spent time in the major leagues in 2024. However, Phillips is out of minor league options. This starting pitching depth gives the Phillies more flexibility to ease Painter into the major leagues without being rushed. This plan will also allow Painter to be available for important innings during the stretch run if things go to plan for the Phillies. Waiting until later in the season to call him up will give the Phillies more flexibility because of the September roster expansion from 26 to 28.
It is worth noting that Ranger Suárez is free agent eligible after the 2025 season. Suárez has been mentioned as a possible trade candidate this offseason. If he is traded at the deadline or leaves in free agency, that would clear a long-term spot in the starting rotation for Painter. But right now, maintaining as much starting pitching depth as possible for as long as possible is the best strategy for the Phillies. Avoiding the carousel of fifth starters they went through in the later portion of the 2024 season should be a priority. The Luzardo trade is an indication of how much Dombrowski prioritizes starting pitching depth. This helps protect the team’s plan for Painter as well.
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