When Is Andrew Painter Getting Called Up? Fantasy Baseball Prospect Outlook (Week 8 Update)

When is Andrew Painter getting called up? Will Painter get promoted in May 2025? Read about this top fantasy baseball prospect outlook heading into Week 8.

Back in 2021, Andrew Painter was one of the game's most exciting future fantasy stars, but like many pitchers these days, his progression to the major leagues was derailed by arm trouble. 

Now fully recovered with the injury in the rearview mirror and still very young, fantasy managers can get excited again about the potential the youngster could bring to the mound in 2025.

But when are the Phillies going to call up Painter? Can we expect him to make his debut in May or June? Can he be a difference-maker for fantasy? Let's dissect it and figure all that out. 

Andrew Painter Prospect Update for Fantasy Baseball

A first-round draft pick in 2021, Painter cruised through the 2022 season to the tune of a 1.56 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 155 strikeouts in 103 2/3 IP (38.7 percent K%), moving from Single-A up to Double-A.

He looked well on his way to making a major league debut by 2023, but was diagnosed with a UCL sprain in his right elbow during spring training and eventually underwent Tommy John surgery in July, causing him to miss all of the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

The 6-foot-7 hurler recovered in time to participate in the 2024 Arizona Fall League (AFL), pitching to a 2.30 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings of work, earning AFL Pitcher of the Year honors for his performance.

A month ago, the #Phillies’ Andrew Painter pitched in a game for the first time since Spring Training 2023. Today, he was named the Arizona Fall League Pitcher of the Year.

MLB’s No. 32 prospect was nearly unhittable (.189 BAA) in the desert: https://t.co/maUiY8mt2e pic.twitter.com/eDsrUwphR3

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) November 17, 2024

The tall righty was brought along slowly this season, making four starts (11 1/3 IP) at Single-A before being sent to Triple-A for the first time, where he's performed well in three starts for Lehigh Valley, posting a 2.25 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and striking out 15 batters in 12 IP.

Earlier this year, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski indicated that the team would want get him ready to come up to the big leagues by July, but not have him expend too many pitches in the minors so as to get the most out of him in the majors as the team makes a push toward the playoffs.

The 22-year-old reached 71 pitches in his latest start, so it looks like he's near fully stretched out, and the July timeline is still intact. So, where does that leave fantasy managers?

Andrew Painter Outlook for Fantasy Baseball

We've established that the guy possesses great strikeout stuff, but how does he do it, and what about his command?

The Phillies' top-ranked prospect (MLB No. 5) throws a four-seam fastball that averages 97 mph but can touch 100. He complements that with a curveball, a slider/sweeper, and a changeup.

Andrew Painter's second start with the @IronPigs:

5.0 IP
5 H
2 ER
2 BB
3 K
71 P pic.twitter.com/ULfSPOIT7n

— Phillies Player Development (@PhilsPlayerDev) May 16, 2025

Throughout his minor league career (133 IP), he's shown great command, registering a 6.2 percent walk rate, which is much better than average (~8.0 percent).

Fantasy managers can't expect that he'll strike out and walk major league hitters at the same rate as he's done in the minors, but both should still be good enough to make him a solid big league pitcher from the outset.

Combine that with the fact that he plays for a first-place team, Painter should be able to pick up at least a handful of wins in the back half of the year.

For fantasy teams looking for pitching help, which is probably most teams, the young fireballer is worth a bench stash in anticipation of his call-up in July. This is a no-brainer for those with an NA spot to slot him into.

He's rostered in just 16 percent of Yahoo! leagues, but expect that number to continue to climb the closer we get to midseason. Stash him now while you still can!

Top Prospect Rankings and Call-Up ETAs

You can also check out the rest of RotoBaller's fantasy baseball prospect rankings. Eric Cross updates the below rankings weekly for the top impact prospects for 2025, and when they may be called up:

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