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Andrew Painter 2023 MLB Player Outlook: Breakout Year Pushes Timeline
2 years agoAfter five years of really ignoring pitching in the draft after drafting Aaron Nola seventh overall in 2014, the Philadelphia Phillies drafted high school arms in the first round in both 2020 and 2021. Andrew Painter was the selection with the 13th overall pick in 2021 out of high school in Florida. The 19-year-old "paints" an imposing picture on the mound, standing 6'7" with long arms and legs. He utilizes those long limbs to get an elite extension, which makes his fastball, already a 95-98 MPH pitch that can touch triple digits, seems even faster. Painter then features two plus breaking balls, a sweeping slider that sits 80-84, and a 12-6 curve that sits around 80 MPH. The two directions on the breaking balls leave hitters swinging over the top of the ball frequently, and then his fastball jumps to the top of the zone and blows them away. He also has a change-up that is at least an average pitch. The Phillies were considering Painter, who doesn't turn 20 until nearly two weeks after Opening Day, for the fifth starter job until tests showed a sprained UCL. He will take four weeks to rest and then be re-evaluated, but it is good to consider that pitchers have pitched through sprains, and with Painter's youth, if the Phillies thought this was serious, he'd likely be scheduling a procedure already, so all is not lost at this point for 2023. Painter is worth consideration in redraft leagues at NFBC ADP of 438 and should be off the board fairly early in startup dynasty leagues as one of the top pitching prospects in the game, even if he does miss a full season of rehab.
