The Phillies have selected Andrew Painter, an 18-year-old right-handed pitcher from Calvary Christian Academy (FL), in the first round (No. 13 overall) of the 2021 MLB Draft, Brian Barber, Director of Amateur Scouting, announced tonight.
Painter was named the 2021 Gatorade Florida Baseball Player of the Year after going 6-1 with a 0.31 ERA while holding opponents to a .119 batting average during his senior season. He struck out just over two batters per inning pitched (91 SO in 45.1 IP) and retired 54 percent of the batters he faced via strikeout. The 6-foot-7, 230-pound Painter was also selected as a Baseball America High School All-American.
In 2018, the Pompano Beach, Fla., native played for the USA Baseball 15U National Team in Panama, where he won a gold medal and earned an All-World Team selection.
"Andrew is a tremendous physical talent and an exceptional young man," Barber said. "We have seen Andrew in every game he has pitched during the last 12 months and could not be more excited to select him. His fastball sits 94 to 98 miles per hour with great feel, and he can throw four pitches for strikes."
Painter is the second consecutive high school pitcher drafted by Philadelphia in the first round, joining right-hander Mick Abel (No. 15 overall in 2020).
The Phillies are scheduled to make their first three selections tomorrow in the second round (No. 49 overall), third round (No. 84 overall) and fourth round (No. 114 overall), and then will have the 13th pick in each round (5-20) for the remainder of the draft.