Carlos Correa says Phillies' top pitching prospect is 'going to be a star'

MLB's No. 1 pitching prospect Andrew Painter made his first spring training start Wednesday for the Philadelphia Phillies against the Minnesota Twins, leaving a two-time All-Star impressed. 

After the Phillies and Twins played to a 4-4 grapefruit league tie, Minnesota's standout shortstop Carlos Correa told reporters he believed Painter was "going to be a star." 

"He's got electric stuff," Correa said via Matt Gelb of The Athletic. "He's going to be in the big leagues pretty soon, and that's exciting at a young age with all that potential. He's got a great mound presence."

Painter gave up three hits, and an earned run with a strikeout in two innings of work, but the 6-foot-7 right-hander showed why the Phillies are seriously considering him for the fifth spot in their 2023 rotation. 

Per MLB Pipeline, Painter threw 19 fastballs on Wednesday afternoon, averaging 96.8 MPH, with his fastest traveling at 99 MPH. 

Selected 13th overall by Philadelphia in the 2021 MLB Amateur Draft out of Calvary Christian High School in Florida, Painter rose through four levels of the Phillies' system in a little over a year. 

Painter spent 2021 in rookie ball before splitting 2022 with the Phillies Low-A affiliate, Clearwater Threshers, High-A Jersey Shore Blue Claws, and the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils. In 22 combined starts last season, Painter finished 6-2 with a 1.56 ERA and 155 strikeouts in 103.2 innings pitched. 

Spring training is still in its infancy, and much can change over the next few weeks, especially for a 19-year-old entering only his third season of pro ball. 

However, there doesn't seem to be much standing between Painter and a spot on the Phillies' Opening Day roster right now.