One of the storylines to follow for the Philadelphia Phillies' 2025 season is the approaching Major League debut of top prospect Andrew Painter. With Painter returning from Tommy John Surgery, he's slowly working back into shape.
According to a new report from Matt Gelb of The Athletic, the Phillies are planning to ramp up Painter's workload and competition. His next start is at Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday, May 8th.
The Phillies intention of ramping up Painter is a great sign in his road to recovery. With his workload increasing, Painter is getting closer to making his Major League debut.
So far in 2025, Painter has thrown 11 and one-third innings across four games. He has a 3.97 ERA with 12 strikeouts and just one walk, and has a 0.97 WHIP. He has allowed five hits and two home runs, but with the Phillies intending to ramp things up for him, they liked what they saw on the mound.
Painter is the Phillies top prospect, and is ranked seventh in all of baseball on the top 100 prospects list. Adding Painter to the Phillies Major League pitching staff would be an embarrassment of riches.
Zach Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo, and Ranger Suarez is already an incredible five-man rotation. With Taijuan Walker off to a solid start to the year, and Painter getting closer to his debut, the Phillies rotation could go seven pitchers deep.
He's been pitching at Single-A with the Clearwater Threshers, and as the Phillies bring Painter up to Triple-A, the competition he will face will improve. It'll be his first start at Triple-A, and will be the closest he's gotten to the Major League roster during the season.
The 22-year-old is closing in on his debut, and with this latest report, things are beginning to ramp up for the Phillies top prospect.
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