Phils prospect Painter ready to 'soak it all in' for long-awaited MLB debut

PHILADELPHIA – Andrew Painter Day is almost here.

It’s been a long time coming for the Phillies’ most highly touted pitching prospect since Cole Hamels more than 20 years ago. Painter had a chance to make the Opening Day roster as a 19-year-old in 2023, when he drew comparisons to likely future Hall-of-Famer Justin Verlander and World Series hero Josh Beckett.

Carlos Correa said that spring that, “this kid’s going to be a star.”

But Painter, 22, suffered an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery. He got back on the mound last year in Triple-A, struggling for the first time in his life, but positioning himself for a strong spring and his MLB debut on Tuesday night against the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park.

“It’s definitely been a long road,” Painter said Monday before the Phillies' 13-2 loss in the series opener against Washington. “Grateful for it. Grateful for all the failure. Last year was a tough one, but I think I learned a lot from it. So, you know, it's been a long journey, but I'm super grateful for all the people that have been a part of it.”

Painter’s debut is going to be an event. He said he will have 30-40 family and friends in attendance.

Tuesday’s first pitch is at 6:40 p.m. ET on NBCSP+ and 94WIP, with national coverage on MLB Network.

“Definitely soak it all in,” Painter said. “You know, take a deep breath. Look around. I think just try to keep everything slow. Don’t let the game speed up on you. Just try to keep it at your pace and keep in control of it.”

Painter, who is the No. 26 prospect in baseball (Phillies’ No. 2), went 5-6 with a 5.40 ERA in 22 starts last season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. It was the first time in his life that baseball didn’t come easily to him. He had dominated hitters since his freshman year of high school at Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., all the way through 2022, when he went a combined 6-2 with a 1.56 ERA in 22 starts with Low-A Clearwater, High-A Jersey Shore and Double-A Reading.

“I think Triple-A was a good place to get that failure and really experience it there,” Painter said. “If you go through and if you don’t have any failure and you hit it at the big leagues, I think that’s really tough. So being able to get that first little bit of failure in my career, not on the biggest stage, was a good thing.”

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Painter has been talking to veteran pitchers about what to expect on Tuesday.

They don’t seem too worried about how Painter will handle it. Painter said Monday it’s been good getting a week to get into his routine at the ballpark.

“He’s got a lot of feel,” Jesús Luzardo said. “He’s more than prepared for it. He’s ready to go. Personally, I remember being nervous running out there and the jitters settling after my first strike. It’s all kind of a blur, I would say. Just soak it all in, but believe in yourself. And I think that he obviously does. He’s got some of the best stuff in the game, so he has all the right in the world to believe in himself. And he knows more than anyone that he can do it.”

“You’ve just got to experience it and get out there,” Aaron Nola said. “We’ve all been in this position before, so if he needs to lean on us about anything, we’re all here for him. I love debuts. I love watching debuts. I think it’s great. I just remember my debut like it was yesterday, and all the help around me with those older guys on that team. It’s a special time. You only debut once.”