Painter makes 1st Spring Training start, deals pair of perfect innings
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CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Phillies right-hander Andrew Painter’s first Grapefruit League start in three years left fans ready for more.
He retired all six batters he faced in two scoreless innings in Sunday’s game against the Yankees at BayCare Ballpark. Painter struck out Jasson Domínguez swinging on a 2-2 slider to end the first inning. He needed only six pitches to finish the second.
Painter’s fastball touched 97.8 mph. It averaged 96.8 mph.
Painter is the Phillies’ No. 2 prospect and the No. 28 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. He entered Spring Training 2023 with a legitimate chance to make the Opening Day roster as a 19-year-old. But after he impressed in a Grapefruit League game against the Twins in Fort Myers, Fla., on March 1, 2023, Painter experienced soreness in his right elbow that was eventually diagnosed as a UCL sprain.