Phillies Top 30 Prospects No. 2: Power Pitcher Andrew Painter

This is the twenty-ninth in a series of stories breaking down the Philadelphia Phillies’ Top 30 prospects heading into 2026.

Andrew Painter made it to Double-A during his first full season in the pros, liquidating his opponents with a 1.56 ERA and 155 strikeouts in 103.2 innings pitched (22 starts) despite having just graduated high school. Painter’s meteoric rise stopped there, however, as Tommy John surgery at the start of the 2023 season wiped out the entirety of his next two seasons.

The 6-foot-7, 215 pound right-hander returned to the mound in 2025 and made 26 starts, pitching 118 innings and allowing hits and walks at a much higher rate than he had before. While Painter struggled with the jump to Triple-A, he looked more like his old self during spring training this season, making the Phillies’ Opening Day roster after posting a 2.31 ERA with two walks issued across 11.2 innings. He’ll make his big league debut on Tuesday, March 31 at home against Washington.

True to his lanky frame, Painter is a bona fide power pitcher, his fastball sitting in the high 90s and touching 101 miles per hour. His curveball and slider can make opposing batters look silly, and Painter has a sweeper and a changeup in the tank as well. His ability to spot the ball and his youth — he won’t turn 23 until April 10 — both work in his favor as he looks to become a mainstay in Philadelphia.