Phillies Top Prospect Undergoes Successful Surgery

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Andrew Painter underwent successful Tommy John surgery on Tuesday, per a release from the team.

Painter, a right-handed pitcher, was operated on by Dr. Neil ElAttrache in Los Angeles, Calif., as he performed the right elbow ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction with an ulnar nerve transportation surgery.

The Phillies announced that Painter, the team’s 20-year-old No. 1 prospect, will return to the team’s Spring Training complex in Clearwater, Fla., later this week to start the rehabilitation process. The Phillies have listed his recovery time as 15 to 18 months. That makes it highly unlikely that Painter will pitch for the Phillies until 2025.

Earlier this month Painter was reportedly ruled out for the rest of the season, after missing this season with a UCL injury. The Phillies had hoped that Painter would be able to help them sometime in 2023, perhaps serving as a fifth starter.

But after suffering an UCL injury earlier this year, the Phillies opted not to try surgery initially as it was considered a partial tear and there was hope rest and rehabilitation would help the pitcher avoid surgery.

The 2021 first-round pick has a career record of 6-2 with a 1.48 ERA in 26 minor league starts, most of which came in 2022 when he pitched his way all the way to Double-A Reading. He has 167 career strikeouts against 25 walks.