Painter delivers 6 strong innings in 2nd Triple-A start
This browser does not support the video element.
In his second start since returning to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, Andrew Painter looked dominant.
The promising young Phillies righty went six innings on Saturday, striking out six and walking none. He allowed one run on four hits. Painter took a no-decision as Rochester walked off the IronPigs, 2-1, at ESL Ballpark.
Painter faced the minimum through four innings. He cruised through the first two frames with three strikeouts before needing some help from his defense in the third. Robert Hassell III and Riley Adams each singled on hard-hit ground balls, but Hassell was caught trying to stretch to third base on Adams’ hit. Painter then induced a double play out of Cayden Wallace to end the inning.
Rochester finally got to him in the fifth. Trey Lipscomb rocketed a one-out single before Joey Wiemer doubled him home. Hassell and Adams each grounded out thereafter to keep the damage to a minimum.
Painter finished his day with another 1-2-3 frame in the sixth. He threw 69 pitches in total with 48 strikes, inducing 10 swings and misses. He additionally earned two of his strikeouts using each of his splitter, sinker and slider. The fastball velocity also looked good, running up to 98.4 mph and averaging 97.4 mph.
Formerly the top Phillies prospect, Painter began the 2026 season in the big league rotation but struggled, pitching to a 7.06 ERA in 14 appearances. The 23-year-old has now put together two strong performances back in the Minor Leagues, with Saturday’s gem joining four innings of one-run ball his previous time out.