Phillies 2021 First Round Draft Pick: Andrew Painter
Pick: 13th overall
School: Calvary Christian Academy (FL)
Position: Right-handed Pitcher
Another Gatorade Player of the Year, Andrew Painter has been the Phillies' top prospect since he entered the system, debuting as high as the sixth-best prospect in all of baseball in 2023. While he has battled injuries in recent memory, he still reeks of top-end starter potential.
When first drafted, scouts said that Painter had the perfect mix of fantastic stuff and the ability to pitch, something that not many high schoolers have. After being drafted 13th overall, he immediately jumped into the Top 10 prospects in baseball, and everyone was made aware of his talent. His 6-foot-7 frame allows for fluid mechanics and easy energy transfer to the ball.
After undergoing Tommy John surgery in July of 2023, there hasn't been much news about the Florida native, almost waiting in the woods for his chance to prove what he can really do. In his 25 professional games within the Phillies minor league system, Painter has pitched to a 2.05 ERA over 109 2/3 innings and has stuck out 167 batters. When Painter returns, he will still only be 22 years old and will quickly make his trek towards the big league team.
Right now the grade is probably lower than it should be, but the uncertainty of his recovery from injury hurts his case slightly.
Grade: B+