CLEARWATER, Fla. Sunday offers a meaningful glimpse into both the current outlook and long-term plans of the Philadelphia Phillies at BayCare Ballpark.
Top pitching prospect Andrew Painter is set to make his long-awaited Grapefruit League debut at 1:05 p.m. against the New York Yankees. It will mark his first spring training start since March 1, 2023 exactly three years ago when he exited a game against the Minnesota Twins with elbow soreness that ultimately led to Tommy John surgery. The injury sidelined him for the entire 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Now 22 and entering his age-23 campaign in April, Painter has worked his way back. He impressed during the 2024 Arizona Fall League but experienced an uneven 2025 season, spending most of the year at Triple A. Although he logged 118 innings his first full professional workload inconsistent command kept him from earning a call-up to the majors.
Painter is widely expected to open the season in Philadelphia’s rotation, largely because ace Zack Wheeler is not projected to be ready for Opening Day on March 26. Wheeler is still building back strength after undergoing surgery in September to address venous thoracic outlet syndrome.
Despite that, Wheeler appears ahead of schedule. He threw his first bullpen session of the spring on Thursday, delivering 21 fastballs, and followed it with a second session Sunday that mixed fastballs and splitters. Breaking pitches are expected to be incorporated next. The typical six-week ramp-up for starting pitchers would place Wheeler’s potential return around April 9 just before the Phillies host the Arizona Diamondbacks from April 10-12 provided there are no setbacks.
Wheeler said he is not holding back unnecessarily and feels strong physically, noting that he was throwing at roughly 80–85 percent intensity in his first bullpen. He credited head trainer Paul Buchheit for helping him build shoulder strength throughout the offseason, adding that he feels stronger entering this year than he has in most previous seasons.
As Sunday unfolds, the Phillies will showcase both their emerging arm in Painter and the steady recovery of Wheeler a snapshot of both the franchise’s immediate needs and its long-term hopes.
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