Painter's masterpiece of a debut all the Phils and the fans could have hoped for
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PHILADELPHIA -- Andrew Painter emerged from the Phillies’ dugout shortly before 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
He was less than an hour from his highly anticipated MLB debut against the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. The fans that noticed him applauded as he walked to the bullpen to begin his final preparations for the biggest day of his professional life.
Painter had waited a lifetime for Tuesday. Fans had waited since the organization selected him with the 13th overall pick in the 2021 Draft. All hoped to leave the ballpark knowing they had experienced something special.
Everyone went home happy. Painter, 22, dazzled against Washington in Philadelphia's 3-2 win, striking out eight and allowing four hits, one run and one walk in 5 1/3 innings.
He showed a big arm with a four-seam fastball that touched 98.7 mph and averaged 96.7 mph. He showed wipeout secondary pitches, getting three strikeouts on changeups, two on sliders and two on curveballs.
He got into a jam in the second when the Nationals hit back-to-back singles to start the inning, but he worked out of it. He was in control the rest of the night, retiring 13 of 15 batters following those singles until he allowed a one-out single to CJ Abrams in the fifth inning.
It was his 84th pitch, which was enough for manager Rob Thomson, who walked to the mound to get the ball from the Phillies’ prized prospect.
Fans stood and cheered as Painter left the mound, raising his cap to his family and friends sitting behind home plate.