Phillies’ prized pitching prospect Andrew Painter set for MLB debut following Tommy John surgery

PHILADELPHIA — Andrew Painter threw spring training pitches clocked at 100 mph, underwent Tommy John surgery and spent an unexpected season rehabbing in the minors.

The 22-year-old Painter — considered to have one of the top arms in any level of baseball — finally is ready for his Phillies debut. Painter will make his first career big league start Tuesday night against Washington.

“The preparation, everything else is going to be the same,” Painter said. “I’m going to go on the field and treat it like another start. ” Painter was the 13th overall pick in the 2021 amateur draft and signed for a $3. 9 million bonus.

He sprinted through Philadelphia’s system in 2022, going 6-2 with a 1. 48 ERA in 26 appearances spread across two Class A teams and Double-A Reading. He hurt his elbow during spring training in 2023 and had Tommy John surgery later that year.

The 6-foot-7 right-hander emerged the top candidate to win the Phillies’ fifth starter job as he attempted to crack the rotation before his 20th birthday. Instead, the injury set him back at least two seasons, and he went 5-8 with a 5.

26 ERA during two minor league stops last season. The Phillies never were concerned with his record. They wanted to see how his elbow and arm held up over a career-best 118 innings pitched.

He’s been deemed good to go and joins a stout rotation that this season will include Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo. “It’s definitely been a long road,” Painter said. “Grateful for it. Grateful for all the failure.

Last year was a tough one. But I think I learned a lot from it. ” The two-time reigning NL East champion Phillies already need Painter to step in and make a solid start following a 1-3 beginning that has them in last place.