As the fiery right-hander continues to recover from Tommy John surgery, which lost him two entire seasons, Phillies top prospect Andrew Painter achieved yet another significant milestone Wednesday night.
In his third start for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, the 22-year-old sensation gave up one earned run on three hits for the IronPigs in Allentown against the Buffalo Bison. More significantly, Painter’s 71-pitch performance was the second consecutive start in which he threw more than 70 pitches. This is a critical step as the organization continues to stretch him after he had a lengthy break to recuperate from the surgery he had at the end of July 2023.
Although it could be challenging to find a vacant space in the rotation given the performance of the starting five, the Phillies have stated that they anticipate Painter to be in the majors at some time this summer, citing July as the possible call-up month.
The Phillies must properly stretch Painter before they can call him up, though, since he just began his eighth game of the season after not throwing the rubber since September of 2022, which also marked the last time he threw more than 70 pitches in a row.
Painter’s 2.25 ERA, 15 strikeouts in 12 innings since joining the IronPigs, and his first victory since 2022 earlier this month may not be as noteworthy as his 142 total pitches in his last two IronPigs starts, or his 202 total pitches since being promoted from Single-A Clearwater to Lehigh Valley.
In contrast to his average of slightly more than 67 pitches per game with the IronPigs, Painter averaged just over 40 pitches per game in Clearwater, with the most number of pitches he threw in any of his four starts from April 11 to May 1.
The following are Painter’s pitch totals as of 2025:
| Date | Pitches Thrown |
| Â April 11 | 37 |
| April 18 | 39 |
| April 24 | 43 |
| May 1 | 42 |
| May 8 | 60 |
| Â May 15 | 71 |
| May 21 | 71 |
Painter is increasing his pitch count to levels he frequently attained at Double-A in 2022, when he made five starts for the Fightin Phils and tallied 413 pitches in five outings, averaging 83 pitches per start, by hitting the 60-pitch barrier in each of his three IronPigs appearances.
Painter threw 92 pitches in seven innings against the Double-A affiliate of the Rockies on September 3, 2022. While pitching in Single A for the Jersey Shore Blue Claws on August 13, 2022, Painter increased his pitch total to 93, which remains the most pitches he has ever thrown in a professional game.
It’s unlikely that Painter, the No. 5 overall prospect in MLB, will hit 90 pitches in the minors again given his recovery from surgery and his increased effectiveness since his lower-level days there, but it’s crucial that the Phillies keep strengthening his arm and getting him ready for his eventual promotion.
Despite some typical early season struggles, Aaron Nola was still giving the Phillies innings until he was recently sidelined because of an ankle injury and Thursday starter Ranger Suarez has looked much more like himself over the past two starts, going seven innings in each, than he did when he got shelled in his May 4 season debut.
But anything may happen between now and July that could need Painter’s call-up, so the Phillies will continue to stretch him out in Triple A until he’s required.
