CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Andrew Painter entered Phillies camp last month as a lock to make the Opening Day roster.
The Phillies made it official on Friday.
Phils manager Rob Thomson announced his starting pitchers for the season’s first five games. Cristopher Sánchez, Aaron Nola and Jesús Luzardo will start the first three games against the Rangers, with Opening Day on Thursday at Citizens Bank Park. Taijuan Walker will pitch the series opener against the Nationals on March 30.
Painter will make his MLB debut on March 31. He is the Phillies’ No. 2 prospect and the No. 28 overall prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline.
“Painter knows he’s on the club,” Thomson said.
Painter has a 2.31 ERA in four Grapefruit League starts. In 11 2/3 innings, he has allowed seven hits, three runs and two walks. He has struck out eight. He pitched four scoreless innings in Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to the Braves in North Port, Fla., allowing one hit and one walk while striking out three.
Afterward, Painter, 22, was asked if he recognized he was on the cusp of being in the Phillies’ rotation.
“I haven’t,” Painter said. “I really haven't. I’m just trying to stay in the present and look forward to each and every start. I think that'll hit when the time comes, and the next start is a big league start. I think that's kind of when the realization will hit.”
Painter is expected to throw a simulated game sometime next week in Philadelphia. It will be his first time throwing off the mound at Citizens Bank Park. Then, the fun starts on March 31, capping a long road back from Tommy John surgery in 2023.
It will be the most highly anticipated debut by a homegrown Phillies pitcher since Cole Hamels on May 12, 2006.