The Philadelphia Phillies still have several issues to sort out during Spring Training. While questions remain about the batting order and bullpen depth, the starting rotation also needs to take shape.
Cristopher Sánchez, Aaron Nola, Jesús Luzardo, and Taijuan Walker appear set in their roles, but elite prospect Andrew Painter is pushing to claim a rotation spot. One week into camp, however, he has yet to take the mound for Philadelphia.
That wait is almost over. According to Corey Seidman of PHLY Sports, manager Rob Thomson recently confirmed Painter’s first Spring outing. He is scheduled to start against a strong American League East opponent.
Seidman reported that Thomson outlined the upcoming pitching schedule: Walker on Thursday, Nola on Friday, Sánchez on Saturday, and Painter on Sunday. That Sunday falls on March 1, when the Phillies host the New York Yankees, giving Painter his first game action of the spring against one of baseball’s most dangerous lineups.
It’s unclear whether Aaron Judge or other Yankees stars will play, but the matchup still marks Painter’s first live appearance before the 2026 MLB season.
The 22-year-old right-hander is widely regarded as Philadelphia’s top pitching prospect and has ranked among baseball’s best young talents for several years. After posting a 5.26 ERA in 2025 across 118 minor-league innings with a 1.49 WHIP and 123 strikeouts he’s aiming to prove he’s ready for the majors.
A strong spring showing could solidify his case for the fifth starter role on Opening Day. If he performs to expectations, he could become a major contributor to the rotation this season.
Painter owns a 3.44 career ERA in the minors and has appeared once before in Spring Training, tossing two innings and allowing one run on three hits. Drafted in the first round in 2021, he’s expected to factor into the pitching staff this year, beginning with his March 1 start against New York.
Leave a Reply