Andrew Painter and Justin Crawford called their parents first.
The Phillies told them last week that they had made their first Opening Day rosters. Everybody in the world knew it was going to happen, so it shouldn’t have surprised anybody, including them.
“Until you hear it’s official, you can’t really assume anything,” Painter said Monday.
“It ain’t official until it’s official,” Crawford echoed.
Painter was a lock to make the team with Zack Wheeler recovering from thoracic outlet decompression surgery. Crawford was a lock with the organization parting ways with center fielder Harrison Bader.
But Painter and Crawford earned their spots. Painter (No. 2 Phillies prospect/No. 28 MLB) allowed seven hits, three runs and two walks and struck out eight in 11 2/3 innings in four spring starts. He will make his MLB debut on Tuesday against the Nationals. Crawford (No. 3 Phillies prospect/No. 53 MLB) hit .250 with three doubles, one triple, two RBIs, two walks, 12 strikeouts and a .637 OPS this spring, while also playing well in center field. He will hit ninth on Thursday against the Rangers at Citizens Bank Park.
Painter will wear No. 24. Crawford will wear No. 2.
“I called my mom first,” Crawford said. “Back home [in Las Vegas], it was like 3 in the morning so she didn’t answer. I just told her, ‘It’s urgent. Call me back.’ She called me back. I talked to her. She started crying. It was a really cool moment. Then I called my dad. He was really excited. And then my little siblings were probably the most excited because they’ve been dying to go to Philly to see a game.”
Crawford’s siblings are 12, six and five.
“It was so special to hear their reaction,” Crawford said. “I can’t even put into words how special and exciting that moment was.”
Painter got engaged the previous week before he learned that he made the team.
What a spring.
Then he got to share the good news with his parents and fiancée.
“They were calm and collected in the moment,” Painter said about his parents’ reactions on the phone. “I’m sure internally there was a lot going on. They’re obviously super excited, and they started looking at flights right away.”
Crawford ran a straight line to his big league debut. The Phillies selected him with the 17th overall pick in the 2022 Draft. He batted a combined .322 with an .831 OPS and 145 stolen bases in 325 games over parts of four seasons in the Minor Leagues. He could’ve been called up last summer, but the Phillies’ outfield improved by midseason with help from the deal that brought them Bader at the Trade Deadline.
Painter took a different journey to Tuesday’s start. The Phils selected him 13th overall in 2021 Draft. He had a chance to make the rotation as a 19-year-old in 2023, but he suffered a UCL tear in his right elbow that March, which required Tommy John surgery.
He missed the ’23 and ’24 Minor League seasons.
Painter said he thought about that rehab process when he made the team.
“You kind of picture how you want it to happen or what you might think happen,” Painter said. “But only time will tell. I believe there’s a plan for everything. Before I got hurt, I wouldn’t have thought it would’ve been three years down the road. But I’m super grateful. Especially [with] the struggles and everything. Just being able to learn from the game and being able to learn from the failure.”
Both prospects have impressed veterans in camp this spring. Painter and Crawford are young, but they don’t act like it. But forgive them Thursday if they’re a little wide eyed. It’s a big day.