It’s July, so where the heck is Phillies mega-prospect Andrew Painter? Yeah. Still in the minors.
Way back in the winter, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said the team was targeting “July-ish” for Painter’s MLB debut, pending no setbacks to the 22-year-old’s return from elbow surgery that wiped out his 2023 and 2024 seasons.
There have been no reported setbacks, yet Painter is still pitching at Lehigh Valley with no imminent sign of his call-up. The Phils have been reluctant setting a precise timeline for when the kid could reach the majors this season. It’s been excruciating for Phillies fans to get the prized prospect to Philly – one Phillies writer called the terminal wait for Painter: “unbearable for the fan base.”
Phillies prospect Andrew Painter should make his debut this summer.(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)
Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Monday that Painter will use the All-Star break (July 14-17) as a mini-hiatus to recharge. Painter was named to the All-Star Futures Game’s roster for the July 12 game at Atlanta’s Truist Park but he will not pitch.
“We will keep him on our plan,” Thomson said Monday. “There’s nothing that says he’s coming up here at all. He’s got to be healthy. He’s got to be pitching well. We’ve said that all along.”
MLB.com’s Paul Casella said “it’s possible” Painter’s debut could happen during the team’s six-game home stand starting on July 18. But there isn’t a clear need with the big club’s rotation that is one of the best in baseball, even with Aaron Nola sidelined with a rib issue for at least another month.
Perhaps a more realistic target date for Painter’s MLB arrival would be August when the Phils play 19 games in 20 days. The team could go to a six-man rotation to give the starters extra rest during the season’s dog days.
Painter, ranked the Phillies’ No. 1 overall prospect by MLBPipeline, has a 4.18 ERA in 2025, across four starts for low-A Clearwater and nine starts for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He has 57 strikeouts in 51⅔ innings. His next start is scheduled for Wednesday, when he’s expected to throw six innings and/or 90-95 pitches.
Here’s why Phillies fans can’t wait to see Painter in Philly:
Painter injured his elbow during spring training in 2023 and had Tommy John surgery later that year. He roared through Philly’s system in 2022, going 6-2 with a 1.48 ERA in 26 appearances spread across two Single-A teams and Double-A Reading.
Painter, who was the No. 13 pick in the 2021 amateur draft and signed for a $3.9 million bonus, will most likely make his debut at some point this season, but it’s still unknown exactly when and the Philadelphia fanbase
