Phillies prospect shines as a top performer in Arizona Fall League

Although Red October crashed and burned weeks ago before it ever got off the ground, there are still important things happening for the Philadelphia Phillies during their offseason. Arguably no development is more important than the return to health of top pitching prospect Andrew Painter, and the Phillies received some welcome news this week as Painter was named one of the top performers in Week 3 of the Arizona Fall League.

In his third start back from Tommy John surgery, the hulking right-hander recorded three scoreless innings for Glendale on Oct. 24, punching out three Salt River hitters and surrendering a single hit during his outing. It was Painter's longest start yet as he stretches out his arm and prepares for a regular workload in 2025.

Phillies prospect Andrew Painter picked as Week 3 top performer in Arizona Fall League

Painter threw 32 pitches and reportedly topped out at 99.2 miles per hour, while also featuring a new slider that seemed to baffle hitters. Painter is likely too good for this level of competition, but it's still a great sign for the organization that their extremely-hyped prospect seems to have made it almost all of the way back to where he was around the time of spring training in 2023 before succumbing to the injury that necessitated Tommy John.

It's been a long road back for Painter, and the Phillies will surely measure his innings carefully. In fact, it would be a shock to everyone if he logged more than about 140-150 innings across all levels next year. But the Phillies will no doubt sketch out a plan that involves him making his MLB debut sometime in the first half of 2025, with an eye toward managing his workload to the point that he can be a playoff contributor.

As Painter works his way back to full health, he provides the Phillies with yet another weapon as they eye a deep October run next year to wash away the taste of back-to-back stunning October failures in 2023 and 2024. Then, with Painter firmly established as an MLB-caliber pitcher, attention can be turned toward him becoming a regular top-of-the-rotation guy as Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola enter the late stages of their careers.

Any number of things can go wrong to derail this long-term view, but it's something that the Phillies have to plan on and then adjust as necessary. If everyone stays healthy, a full-time rotation of Wheeler, Nola, Painter, Cristopher Sanchez, and Ranger Suárez seems pretty unbeatable, but that's why they play the games, of course.

For now, Painter is progressing as well as the team could have asked for, and that's something tangible to pin some hopes on for next year. Even though he won't be up with the big club to start the season due to load management, Painter figures to be an important part of the Phillies' 2025 title quest.

His selection as a top performer in the Arizona Fall League (which, I have to point out, came in the same week that Marlins prospect Andrew PINTER was also recognized) is a nice feather in his cap, and something that he can build on going forward.

Trending on That Ball's Outta Here