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Andrew Painter Makes Phillies Opening Day Roster
Philadelphia Phillies right-handed pitching prospect Andrew Painter has been told that he has made the team's 2026 Opening Day roster, as expected, according to Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Painter will start the Phillies' fifth game of the season on Tuesday, March 31, against the division-rival Washington Nationals. That will be the 22-year-old's major-league debut as well. Painter was a high-end pitching prospect from the day the Phillies took him 13th overall in 2021. Unfortunately, his 2023 and 2024 seasons were wiped out due to Tommy John surgery. Painter began to work his way back last year in the minors and looked good, but he ultimately never made the leap to the big leagues. Painter's stuff has been on point this spring, and he allowed three earned runs while walking only one and fanning five in 7 2/3 Grapefruit League innings. The sky is the limit for Painter as he embarks on his first major-league season, but he'll need to be pitching well early on to keep his rotation spot when Zack Wheeler (shoulder) is ready to return at some point next month.
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Scott Lauber
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Scott Lauber
