Is Andrew Painter ready for the Bigs?

Since being selected with the 13th overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, Andrew Painter has been hailed as the next superstar ace to graze the Phillies rotation. Though rightful in that the 6’7, 215lb righty has pitched to near perfection in the minor leagues, with a 1.48 ERA through 109.2 innings of work. We are left wondering if we are jumping to the gun too quickly on the young hurler.

After being selected in the first round of the 2021 MLB First-year Player Draft, Andrew Painter pitched only four innings for the FCL Rookie Ball Phillies before lingering Shoulder Tendinties sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Though the 6-inning sample size was small, Painter refused to allow a run letting only four hits slip by.

Year two was a far cry for the Pampano Beach product, as Painter began the season in Low A Clearwater. Through nine games for the Threshers, the Phillies number-one prospect allowed 6 runs across 38.2 IP. That being good enough for a stunning 1.40 ERA and a mid-season call-up to High A Jersey Shore. Where he was joined by fellow top prospects Mick Abel (2) and Griff McGary (4). It was there when Painter began to make his mark in the Phils system going 36.2 innings while surrendering only 4 runs. Painter’s 0.98 ERA for Jersey Shore was good enough to gain him recognition from local and national analysts alike. Eventually earning a place at No. 24 on the MLB’s Top 100 prospects list at midseason.

After finishing out the season in AA where he allowed 8 runs in 28.1 innings, Painter was crowned unanimously as the Phillies best minor league pitcher. He earned the Paul Owens award, given to the organization’s best prospects each season. Painter had been the best farm arm to climb the ladder in the Phillies system since Jimmy Rollins in the late 90s and fans were rightfully excited about him.

Though, as the Major League season came to a close, and the Phillies eventually secured a playoff spot in the final series of the year. Fans and media personalities alike looked at Painter with much intrigue, claiming the hard-throwing righty should get the call for the postseason. Granted, the Phils rotation was thin. Having to rely on the likes of Kyle Gibson and Noah Syndergaard to get you through playoff games was not ideal. Though we now all know how the postseason turned out for Phils. They didn’t then, and at the time calling Painter up seemed like a legitimate option for Dave Dombrowski and Company.

Many may now agree in hindsight, but from the jump it was clear that calling such a raw prospect up, like Painter was never a good idea. Top prospects in Baseball don’t come around every year, and when you get your hands on one managing them is a task of its own. Looking at the big picture; Painter had made the jump from Rookie Ball to AA in his first pro season. Making a high-level prospect, especially a pitcher, Fastpass a AAA stint can prove fatal for many young arms who would have never faced major league batting.

Many neglect to realize how big the jump between AA and AAA truly is. AAA is the best place for a young pitcher to see major league level offense, without having the pressure of heading to the bigs. By taking a pass and heading right to the majors, the Phillies would risk severely damaging Painter’s development. The course that he rests on now projects that the Phils top prospect will make his debut during the mid to late 2023 campaign. However, this hasn’t stopped Sports radio voices, writers, and fans alike to warrant Painter getting the call on opening day, come next season.

Rushing top prospects is normal in the majors, especially when you see your squad pick up a high-level player in the draft, then needing to wait 2-5 seasons to finally see them make their debut. For Phillies fans especially, who will remember the Mickey Moniak and Spencer Howard sagas with great angst. Desperate for a high-level farm arm, fans cannot allow their excitement to blind them. There is no doubt that Painter’s time in the majors will come, may it be sooner or further down the line, the Phils will have their top prospect. The principle now only lies with patience.