Andrew Painter, a prominent pitching prospect for the Philadelphia Phillies, is poised to make his first Minor League start since 2022. On Friday, he will pitch for Low-A Clearwater, as confirmed by Phillies manager Rob Thomson to reporters, including The Athletic. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in July 2023, Painter has been on the mend but was able to pitch during the Arizona Fall League last offseason.

In his six starts for Glendale, he performed exceedingly well, setting the stage for his return to the regular season. The team plans to ease him back into action cautiously, although they are hopeful for a summer debut. Currently, CBS Sports rates him as the 14th prospect in baseball heading into the 2025 season, demonstrating substantial potential as a top talent.

“Painter returned to the mound during the Arizona Fall League after being sidelined for the past two seasons by Tommy John surgery. He demonstrated his health, touching 99 mph while generating plenty of swinging strikes with both his curveball and slider.”
Painter appeared set for a debut in 2023, but the Phillies may prefer a more cautious approach given his workload limitations. A healthy Painter remains a promising prospect.

Originally drafted 13th overall from Calvary Christian Academy in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Painter has captivated scouts. In his brief minor league career, he boasts a 1.48 ERA and 167 strikeouts over 109 ⅔ innings, allowing just five homers. Notably, he reached Double-A as a 19-year-old in 2022.