MILWAUKEE The Philadelphia Phillies are not expecting Andrew Painter to immediately become the next dominant young pitching sensation like Milwaukee Brewers rookie Jacob Misiorowski. What they do need, however, is to see steady progress from one of the organization’s most highly regarded prospects as he continues adjusting to life in the major leagues.
In an effort to help the 23-year-old right-hander find his rhythm, the Phillies experimented with a different approach Friday night by deploying an opener before turning the game over to Painter. Unfortunately, the change in strategy did not produce the desired outcome, as Painter endured another difficult outing during Philadelphia’s 6-0 defeat to the Brewers at American Family Field.
The loss, however, was not solely on Painter. Philadelphia’s offense was virtually shut down by Misiorowski, who delivered one of the most overpowering performances of the season. The hard-throwing Brewers phenom allowed just one hit across his outing, with Kyle Schwarber’s leadoff single in the fourth inning serving as the Phillies’ lone offensive highlight. The Phillies sent only the minimum 27 batters to the plate and struck out an alarming 15 times.
Misiorowski’s electric fastball dominated headlines throughout the evening. He recorded the fastest pitch thrown by a starting pitcher in the pitch-tracking era, reaching 104.5 mph while striking out Schwarber in the first inning. He followed that with a 103.5 mph fastball to retire Trea Turner and a 104.1 mph heater to fan Bryce Harper, leaving Philadelphia’s star hitters with few answers.
“104 is tough for anybody,” Harper said afterward. “His fastball is obviously elite. It’s a great start to his career.”
Ironically, Misiorowski’s current success mirrors the path the Phillies hope Painter will eventually follow. Just a year ago, Misiorowski arrived in the majors as a highly touted young arm with premium velocity but inconsistent results. After flashing potential early, he struggled through much of the second half, posting a 5.40 ERA over his final 12 regular-season starts and rarely pitching deep into games.
Now, one year later, the Brewers’ right-hander has transformed into one of baseball’s most effective young pitchers, carrying a remarkable 1.39 ERA through 14 starts. His development serves as a reminder that elite prospects often require time, patience, and experience before reaching their full potential.
That reality is not lost on Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly, who continues to believe Painter can take similar steps forward.
“When you look at young players, you just want to see them continue getting better,” Mattingly said. “Maybe this is the beginning of that process for him.”
Despite the disappointing final line, there were several encouraging signs from Painter’s performance. He threw the fastest pitch of his major league career, touching 99.1 mph, and demonstrated improved command by delivering first-pitch strikes to 16 of the 24 hitters he faced. Both areas have been significant points of emphasis as he works through the growing pains of his rookie season.
Still, the results were difficult to ignore. Painter surrendered five runs on five hits while issuing three walks across five innings. Through his first 13 major league appearances, including 11 starts, he owns a 1-7 record and a 6.43 ERA.
Harper emphasized that Painter should not become consumed by those statistics.
“The biggest thing is not looking at the numbers,” Harper said. “Every time he takes the mound, it’s a fresh start. Forget the ERA and all that. Focus on finding success one outing at a time.”
Harper also reiterated how important Painter remains to Philadelphia’s long-term plans.
“I said it during Spring Training — we need him,” Harper added. “And we still do. He’s at the beginning of his career. He’s going to improve, he’s going to have success, and he’s going to get better.”
While Painter’s recent struggles have been visible, Mattingly indicated he is not overly concerned about the young pitcher’s confidence. The organization will continue monitoring his mental approach while allowing him opportunities to learn and grow at the highest level.
Painter’s next opportunity to turn things around is expected to come Wednesday afternoon against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park. Whether the Phillies once again utilize an opener or return him to a traditional starting role remains undecided.
For Painter, the mindset remains unchanged regardless of how he enters the game.
“You have to be confident every time you go out there,” Painter said. “I’m grateful every time I get the chance to take the mound. If you’re not throwing with conviction, then you’ve already lost the battle. You just have to keep moving forward and be ready for the next opportunity.”
As the Phillies continue searching for consistency from one of their brightest young talents, they remain hopeful that Painter’s journey will eventually resemble the success story currently unfolding across the field with Misiorowski.
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