Philadelphia Phillies prospect Andrew Painter is widely regarded as one of the premier pitching talents in baseball for good reason.
The towering right-hander, known for a fastball that can eclipse 100 mph, is working his way back from a significant arm injury. He logged just 15.2 innings in 2024, all during the Arizona Fall League, after missing the entire 2023 season.
Given his performance, there’s been speculation about when the Phillies might promote him. Painter has little left to prove at Triple-A, where he posted a 2.65 ERA and struck out 20 batters over 17.0 innings. His dominance suggests he’s ready to contribute at the next level.
Despite this, Paul Casella of MLB.com reports that, based on recent statements from team executives, a call-up doesn’t appear to be imminent.
“Health,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “That’s it.”
When asked if Painter could make his debut before the All-Star break, Thomson added that he doesn’t think so.
“I don’t think so.”
Thomson should have some say on when Painter makes his debut, but it’ll likely be up to the front office to make that final decision.
Dave Dombrowski has done an excellent job being smart with his players.
If Painter isn’t ready to throw in the big leagues because he needs innings, and they don’t want to rush his development, keeping him in the minors for another month or two makes sense.
However, he’s been so dominant that at this point, why not give him a shot?
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