Phillies Prospect Andrew Painter Takes Major Step Forward in Recovery from Tommy John Surgery
Top Phillies prospect Andrew Painter hit a key milestone in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, throwing over 70 pitches in back-to-back starts for the first time since undergoing the procedure in July 2023.
Pitching for Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Wednesday night, the 22-year-old right-hander gave up just one earned run on three hits against the Buffalo Bisons. But more importantly, he tossed 71 pitches — matching his total from his previous start — as the Phillies work to build up his endurance following a two-season absence.
Painter, ranked the No. 5 prospect in all of baseball, is expected to make his MLB debut sometime this summer. July is the target, though it could be tough to find a rotation spot with the Phillies’ current starters performing so well.
Before his call-up, Painter must show he’s fully stretched out. Wednesday’s outing marked his seventh of the season, his first since September 2022 — also the last time he had logged consecutive games with more than 70 pitches.
While Painter’s 2.25 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 12 innings with the IronPigs are impressive, his recent pitch count progression — totaling 142 over his last two starts and 202 since joining Lehigh Valley — might be even more encouraging. At Single-A Clearwater earlier this season, he averaged just over 40 pitches per game across four starts.
Painter’s 2025 Pitch Counts by Start:
- April 11: 37
- April 18: 39
- April 24: 43
- May 1: 42
- May 8: 60
- May 15: 71
- May 21: 71
In 2022 at Double-A, Painter averaged 83 pitches per outing, including a career-high 93 pitches in a Single-A game that August. While it’s unlikely he’ll hit that mark again in the minors this season, the Phillies are prioritizing his conditioning as they prepare him for the big leagues.
Philadelphia currently boasts the fourth-best ERA (3.34) among MLB starting rotations, second in the National League behind the Mets. Newcomer Jesús Luzardo has been dominant, while Zack Wheeler continues to lead with 80 strikeouts, a 5-1 record, and a 2.67 ERA. Cristopher Sánchez also remains steady with a 3.10 ERA. Though Aaron Nola has faced some early-season issues and is now out with an ankle injury, Ranger Suárez has bounced back with two strong seven-inning starts.
Given how quickly things can change over the course of a season, the Phillies will keep preparing Painter at Triple-A, ensuring he’s ready when the opportunity arises.
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