Andrew Painter - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Could be held out of exhibitions The Phillies might hold Painter out of Grapefruit League games in order to preserve his workload, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Impact Painter hasn't pitched in a minor-league game since 2022 due to recovery from Tommy John surgery, so he's going to have his innings closely monitored in 2024. The most likely scenario appears to be him remaining in extended spring training for a slow ramp-up so he can be available for the Phillies later in the season. However, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said earlier this month that no decisions have been made in regards to how Painter will be handled. The top prospect dazzled during Arizona Fall League play, posting a 2.30 ERA and 18:4 K:BB over 15.2 frames.

NOVEMBER 21 • ROTOWIRE

Back to form Painter has a 2.08 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 12 strikeouts and two walks in 13 innings through five Arizona Fall League starts.

Impact He last pitched three scoreless and hitless frames Nov. 5, and could make a final AFL appearance this week. Prior to the fall league, Painter hadn't pitched since 2022, yet he leads qualified AFL pitchers in ERA and WHIP. He has used all four of his pitches this fall, with his four-seam fastball up to 99 mph and averaging 97 mph, per Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com. His stuff is all the way back, and so is his control, which was part of what made Painter such a special prospect before Tommy John surgery. It's unclear if the Phillies will ease Painter into action at Triple-A or give him a shot to win a job in the big-league rotation out of spring training. He threw 103.2 innings in 2022, and will finish with just under 20 innings this fall, so a capped, unpredictable workload is the main drawback with the 21-year-old righty in redraft leagues.

NOVEMBER 11 • ROTOWIRE

Added to AFL roster Painter (elbow) will pitch for the Glendale Desert Dogs in the Arizona Fall League, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Impact Painter began throwing off a mound in July as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery and the Phillies have decided to send their top pitching prospect to the AFL so he can face hitters prior to the offseason. It will be his first game action since 2022. Provided he makes a full recovery and regains his pre-surgery stuff, Painter is a good bet to contribute in the majors at some point in 2025.

OCTOBER 7 • ROTOWIRE

Throwing off mound Painter (elbow) progressed to throwing off a mound in Clearwater in July but will not return to game action until the 2025 season, MLB.com reports.

Impact Given that Painter had Tommy John surgery in late-July 2023, it was always unlikely we'd see back in game action until 2025. He should have time to be fully recovered and a full-go for spring training. Painter threw 103.2 innings in 2022 and it's tough to predict how many innings he'll throw next season after not pitching at all for two years. However, if he makes a full recovery, he won't need much more developmental time in the minors.

AUGUST 29 • ROTOWIRE

Tommy John surgery Tuesday Painter is undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow Tuesday in Los Angeles, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Impact It was already announced last week that Painter would require the reconstructive elbow procedure. Given the timing here, it's likely that the talented young right-hander won't pitch in a live game again until late 2024 or even early 2025. There had been talk of him making his MLB debut with the Phillies around the beginning of the 2023 campaign, before his elbow began barking during spring training.

JULY 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Phillies doctors recommend elbow surgery for top prospect Andrew Painter

Right-handed pitcher Andrew Painter, a top prospect who hit 100 mph in spring training, may need UCL reconstruction.

JULY 19, 2023

Phillies doctors recommend elbow surgery for top prospect Andrew Painter

Tommy John surgery recommended Tommy John surgery has been recommended for Painter (elbow) following a surgical consultation with Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Monday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Impact Painter was first diagnosed with a partially torn UCL in his right elbow back in early March. While it looked at times like he might be able to successfully rehab the injury, he had a setback while facing hitters earlier this month and it looks like he'll ultimately require surgery. An operation would prevent the top prospect from pitching at least until late 2024 and perhaps not until 2025.

JULY 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Tests reveal positive results Tests on Painter's right elbow revealed healing in his UCL, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Impact Painter will remain shut down from throwing for now, but he and the Phillies can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that Tommy John surgery won't be necessary. The 20-year-old righty has spent all season rehabbing a sprained UCL and remains on track to pitch later this season -- though no official timeline has been established.

JULY 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Undergoing tests for sore elbow Painter will undergo testing due to renewed right elbow discomfort, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Impact Painter had to be scratched from a throwing session earlier this week due to elbow stiffness, but he was able to return to the mound with a bullpen session Wednesday. However, evidently he did not bounce back as hoped. The young hurler had been working his way back from a partially torn UCL and with this setback the worry now has to be that Tommy John surgery could be looming.

JULY 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Throws bullpen session Painter (elbow) threw a bullpen session at the Phillies' spring training complex in Florida on Wednesday, Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Impact Painter had to be scratched from a throwing session earlier this week due to stiffness in his right elbow, so it's a great sign that he's already back on the mound. "We'll see how he comes in the next day or two," said manager Rob Thomson. It's not clear when Painter might be ready for a rehab assignment, but the team is still holding out hope that he can be an option for their rotation later this season. He's working his way back from a partially torn UCL.

JULY 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Experiencing stiffness Painter (elbow) did not throw live batting practice Tuesday because of some stiffness, Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Impact Painter was scheduled to face live hitters for the first time since he suffered a sprained UCL in March, but the Phillies don't want to push the 20-year-old right-hander until he is fully free of any discomfort. "As of now, no, I don't have any concern," manager Rob Thomson told reporters Tuesday afternoon. "We just want to make sure that stiffness gets out and we move forward."

JULY 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Live BP on tap Painter (elbow) is expected to throw live batting practice Tuesday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Impact The right-hander has been building up his arm in bullpen sessions over the past few weeks and has now been cleared to face live hitters. Painter could soon progress to a simulated game or a minor-league rehab assignment if all goes well during Tuesday's session.

JULY 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Another bullpen session Painter (elbow) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Impact Painter could soon advance to facing live hitters as he continues to make slow but steady progress in his recovery from a sprained UCL in his right elbow. The 20-year-old top prospect still has a shot at making his MLB debut at some point before the end of the 2023 season.

JUNE 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Completes 20-pitch bullpen session Painter (elbow) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session Tuesday at the Phillies' spring training complex in Florida, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Impact Painter is now scheduled to throw another bullpen session Friday. The right-hander is making steady progress from the sprained UCL that has sidelined him throughout the 2023 campaign. Painter will likely need a few more bullpen sessions before starting a rehab assignment, but he does have a chance to make starts for Philadelphia before the season comes to a conclusion.

JUNE 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Throws 20-pitch bullpen session Painter (elbow) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session Saturday, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Impact Painter entered spring training with a shot to crack the Phillies' Opening Day rotation as a teenager, but a sprained UCL derailed those plans. He avoided surgery and has been steadily building up over the last two months. He began playing catch in early April and had worked his way to bullpen sessions by late May, though those came from the front of the mound. He's ready for the real thing now, but still has steps to go in his recovery before the Phillies consider activating him from the injured list.

JUNE 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Throwing bullpen sessions Painter (elbow) has begun throwing "short" bullpen sessions, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Impact Painter has progressed from long toss to throwing from the front of the mound, roughly 50-to-55 feet away from the plate. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said that he expects Painter to pitch in game action this season -- potentially for the big-league club. On the other hand, he also reiterated that the team is being very careful with its top pitching prospect and that there is still plenty of progress to be made in his recovery.

MAY 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Advances to long-toss Painter (elbow) began throwing long-toss Tuesday from a distance of 120 feet, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Impact Painter continues to make steady progress in his recovery from a spring UCL sprain and would seem to be nearing a return to mound work. There's no exact timetable for when he might be cleared to pitch in live games, but it remains quite possible that the 20-year-old right-hander could make his MLB debut at some point in 2023. He'll likely first spend a good chunk of time at Double-A Reading and then Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

MAY 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Advances to 90-feet throwing Painter (elbow) has advanced to playing catch from a distance of 90 feet, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Impact Painter still has a lot of hurdles to clear, but he has progressed without issue so far with his flat-ground work and might try throwing off a mound sometime in May. The highly-touted 20-year-old right-hander was diagnosed with a UCL sprain in his elbow back in March and is currently on the 60-day injured list with Double-A Reading. There's still some hope that he could debut with the Phillies in 2023, but it would likely be late in the season.

APRIL 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

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Phillies doctors recommend elbow surgery for top prospect Andrew Painter