Painter Has Potential To Be Fifth Starter For Phillies

Andrew Painter has been ranked high on a list of top pitching prospects, indicating a strong possibility he ends up as the fifth Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher.

Most 19-year-olds are heading to their next college class or working part-time.

Andrew Painter is not your average 19-year-old.

According to MLB Pipeline, he was recently named the No. 6-ranked pitching prospect in baseball.

By the time the regular season starts, Painter could be the fifth starter on the Philadelphia Phillies.

Pretty amazing.

“Yeah, I mean, it’s moving fast,” Painter told reporters at spring training Friday in Clearwater, Fla. “It’s kind of hard to wrap my head around.”

Painter had major success at all three stops in the Minor Leagues as he posted a 1.56 ERA in 22 starts last season. He struck out 155 and walked only 25 in 103 2/3 innings in two Single-A stints and a third at Double-A Reading.

Painter is the youngest player in Phillies camp, 600 days younger than Mick Abel.

Age is irrelevant to the teenager. He just wants to do what he has always done – compete and execute.

“I’m just worrying about what’s in front of me right now, take it day by day and not look at the big picture too much,” Painter said.

Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, Ranger Suarez and Taijuan Walker are the top four starters and Painter is battling with left-hander Bailey Falter for the fifth spot.

Manager Rob Thomson said that Cristopher Sanchez, Nick Nelson and Michael Plassmeyer are also in the mix.

Painter’s No.76 jersey was placed next to Zack Wheeler’s No. 45 in the clubhouse. It might not be a coincidence.

“It took me a little while to really get the layout down, but it’s cool to be on that side of the locker room, be right next to Wheeler, close to (Aaron) Nola, just be able to talk to those guys when we’re not doing anything, when we’re just hanging out in there,” Painter told reporters.

MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki reported that if Painter earns a start before he turns 20 on April 10, he will become the first teenager to start for the Phillies since Mark Davis in 1980, and the first teenager to start in MLB since Julio Urías in 2016.

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