Andrew Painter Likely to Debut in July

The Philadelphia Phillies are managing the return of top pitching prospect Andrew Painter, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski announced that Painter is unlikely to debut in the majors until around July, as the team plans to save his limited innings for the latter half of the season. Although Painter will throw during spring training, he will not participate in games, instead building up in the minor leagues after missing all of 2023. The recent acquisition of left-hander Jesus Luzardo and right-hander Joe Ross adds depth to the rotation, allowing the team to proceed cautiously with Painter's development. Painter, previously a standout in the minors, showed promise during a brief stint in the Arizona Fall League, striking out 18 batters in 15.2 innings. The Phillies are optimistic about Painter's potential as he prepares for his Major League debut in 2025.