Phillies Top Prospect Painter Wins Arizona Fall League Top Pitcher Award originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
As the front office explores trades and free agent deals, the Phillies have already seen significant positive development this offseason.
Andrew Painter not only showed his arm was healthy in the Arizona Fall League, but he also excelled, winning the AFL Pitcher of the Year award over the weekend.
Painter made six starts and allowed four runs and 14 baserunners in 15⅔ innings, striking out 18. He touched 99 mph with his fastball early and late in his run in Arizona against some of baseball’s top prospects and also incorporated more sliders to accompany. with his curveball and a developing changeup.
Painter, now 21, was the favorite to win the Phillies’ fifth starting job two years ago as a 19-year-old. He impressed in his first spring training start, but came out with an elbow injury that ultimately required Tommy John surgery. He missed all of 2023 and 2024, so this was a crucial step in his return journey.
“Coming here, I just wanted to compete and get a feel for what I’m doing, feel confident for 2025 and come away healthy,” Painter said. MLB.com earlier this week. “It was great. You can’t simulate that in bullpens and everything at the complex. The adrenaline kicked in and did its part. Everything went well and I feel really good moving forward. “
Painter remains the Phillies’ top pitching prospect and one of the best in the sport. He reached Double-A in his first year in the Phillies system and owns a 1.48 ERA in the minor leagues with nearly seven times as many strikeouts as walks.
The Phillies will treat him carefully in 2025. They haven’t and likely won’t provide a firm innings limit, but it could be around 100. His career high was 103⅔ in 2022.
That could mean Painter starts the regular season in the minor leagues even if he dazzles in spring training, gradually developing and potentially helping the Phillies later in the year.
These decisions do not need to be made in November, however. For now, the Phillies are just thrilled that Painter looks like he’ll be back.
