Drafted in the 1st round (13th overall) by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2021 (signed for $3,900,000).
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Painter established himself as the top pitcher in the high school class last summer and entered the season as the sole unanimous selection on Baseball America’s preseason All-America Team, as voted on by scouting directors. He was never the hardest thrower on the field, but it is difficult to find a pitcher in this year’s class who checks as many boxes as Painter—which has led to comparisons to 2020 prep righthander Mick Abel. Painter is a 6-foot-6, 230-pound righty with a buttery smooth delivery and a tremendously loose, easy arm action that should give him above-average or plus command in the future. It’s rare to put 60-grade control on a prep arm, but some scouts have even gone as far as putting 70 grades on his future control. In terms of stuff, Painter has a four-pitch mix that’s above-average or better across the board. This spring, Painter has run his fastball up into the upper 90s at his peak, and he’s held 94-95 mph deep into his outings, which is a solid tick up from the low 90s range he settled into last summer. His best secondary is a changeup in the low 80s that scouts put plus grades on, and he throws both a curveball and a slider. Painter’s breaking stuff has been inconsistent at times, but he’s shown enough flashes and general feel for spin for both to project as above-average in the future. Painter was just OK during his first few starts of the season, which caused him to lose his grip on the “consensus top prep arm” label of the class that he entered the season with. Despite that, and despite the industry’s general hesitance to spend significant draft capital on high school righthanders, Painter checks all of the boxes to become a first-round pick and shouldn’t make it to campus at Florida. Calvary Christian had three players drafted in the 2010s (Luke Jackson, Jake Eder, Raynel Delgado) but Painter should become the highest drafted of the bunch, and the highest ever for the program.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
BA Grade/Risk: 70/High
Track Record: Painter a unanimous choice for the 2021 Preseason High School All-America team, voted on by scouting directors. He continued to shine during his senior season at Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Lauderdale, and the Phillies drafted him 13th overall and signed him to an under-slot $3.9 million. Painter made four appearances in the Florida Complex League after signing, striking out 12 batters in six scoreless innings before finishing the season in instructional league. In 2022 he emerged as one of the top pitching prospects in the sport, rising three levels to Double-A Reading while showcasing a combination of mound maturity beyond his years and an explosive four-pitch arsenal filled with above-average to double-plus offerings. Painter didn't give up an earned run over his first 32 innings as a pro and finished 2022 with a 1.56 ERA and 155 strikeouts and 25 walks over 103.2 innings. He was named the inaugural BA Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
Scouting Report: The 6-foot-7, 215-pound righthander stands out for his imposing body on the mound and an electric arsenal that stacks up against any prospect in the minor leagues. Painter's fastball averages just over 96 mph and tops out at 101 with plus-plus induced vertical break and spin rates around 2,400 rpm, and he has excellent command of the pitch. His primary secondary offering is a low-80s slider that averages close to a foot of horizontal break and spin rates over 2,500 rpm. He rounds out his arsenal with a high-80s changeup and high-70s curveball. While those two pitches aren't as effective as his fastball and slider, he showed more confidence throwing his changeup as he got further into the 2022 season, adding a different spin axis to the pitch to attack hitters on both sides of the plate. His changeup was his most devastating pitch, with a whiff rate over 55% and a chase rate over 38%. His curveball has a tendency to blend with his slider at times, but it still shows enough to profile as an average offering. While Painter's pitch mix is excellent, he also shows remarkable poise and maturity on the mound, especially for a 19-year-old. Despite his length he has a repeatable delivery with good body control, excellent hand feel out front and a strong ability to control the running game. He has plus-plus control and walked just two batters in 28.1 Double-A innings. Painter has the traits to profile as a top-of-the-rotation starter in the major leagues.
The Future: Painter bulldozed through the Class A levels on his way to finishing the season with five starts at Double-A. He will start the 2023 season back at Reading, but he's on track to make his MLB debut during the season. He could quickly make his presence felt near the top of the rotation.
Track Record: The No. 2 prep pitcher in the 2021 draft class, Painter became the highest drafted player ever out of the power program Calvary Christian High in Fort Lauderdale. He signed with the Phillies for $3.9 million after being taken 13th overall. Painter impressed in a brief pro debut, striking out 12, walking none and allowing four hits in six scoreless innings in the Florida Complex League.
Scouting Report: Painter has an advanced approach for a prep arm to go along with an impressive four-pitch arsenal, led by a fastball that ticked up from the low 90s in 2020 to sitting in the mid 90s and touching 98 mph at instructional league. The pitch has shown encouraging metrics and is a plus offering. Painter shows confidence in his changeup, throwing the pitch in any count and to both lefthanded and righthanded hitters while adding a different spin axis to it this summer. He throws an above-average mid-80s slider with good spin, and he rounds out his mix with a curveball that flashes plus at times. Painter has plus control, an easy arm action and a repeatable delivery out of an imposing 6-foot-7 frame, giving him the upside to develop into a future No. 2 or 3 starter.
The Future: Painter spent his time at instructional league honing his offspeed offerings, including getting his curveball to a more consistent point and keeping the same spin axis on his changeup that he showed this summer. He’ll make his full-season debut in 2022.
Draft Prospects
Painter established himself as the top pitcher in the high school class last summer and entered the season as the sole unanimous selection on Baseball America’s preseason All-America Team, as voted on by scouting directors. He was never the hardest thrower on the field, but it is difficult to find a pitcher in this year’s class who checks as many boxes as Painter—which has led to comparisons to 2020 prep righthander Mick Abel. Painter is a 6-foot-6, 230-pound righty with a buttery smooth delivery and a tremendously loose, easy arm action that should give him above-average or plus command in the future. It’s rare to put 60-grade control on a prep arm, but some scouts have even gone as far as putting 70 grades on his future control. In terms of stuff, Painter has a four-pitch mix that’s above-average or better across the board. This spring, Painter has run his fastball up into the upper 90s at his peak, and he’s held 94-95 mph deep into his outings, which is a solid tick up from the low 90s range he settled into last summer. His best secondary is a changeup in the low 80s that scouts put plus grades on, and he throws both a curveball and a slider. Painter’s breaking stuff has been inconsistent at times, but he’s shown enough flashes and general feel for spin for both to project as above-average in the future. Painter was just OK during his first few starts of the season, which caused him to lose his grip on the “consensus top prep arm” label of the class that he entered the season with. Despite that, and despite the industry’s general hesitance to spend significant draft capital on high school righthanders, Painter checks all of the boxes to become a first-round pick and shouldn’t make it to campus at Florida. Calvary Christian had three players drafted in the 2010s (Luke Jackson, Jake Eder, Raynel Delgado) but Painter should become the highest drafted of the bunch, and the highest ever for the program.
Top 100 Rankings
Scouting Reports
BA Grade/Risk: 70/High
Track Record: Painter a unanimous choice for the 2021 Preseason High School All-America team, voted on by scouting directors. He continued to shine during his senior season at Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Lauderdale, and the Phillies drafted him 13th overall and signed him to an under-slot $3.9 million. Painter made four appearances in the Florida Complex League after signing, striking out 12 batters in six scoreless innings before finishing the season in instructional league. In 2022 he emerged as one of the top pitching prospects in the sport, rising three levels to Double-A Reading while showcasing a combination of mound maturity beyond his years and an explosive four-pitch arsenal filled with above-average to double-plus offerings. Painter didn't give up an earned run over his first 32 innings as a pro and finished 2022 with a 1.56 ERA and 155 strikeouts and 25 walks over 103.2 innings. He was named the inaugural BA Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
Scouting Report: The 6-foot-7, 215-pound righthander stands out for his imposing body on the mound and an electric arsenal that stacks up against any prospect in the minor leagues. Painter's fastball averages just over 96 mph and tops out at 101 with plus-plus induced vertical break and spin rates around 2,400 rpm, and he has excellent command of the pitch. His primary secondary offering is a low-80s slider that averages close to a foot of horizontal break and spin rates over 2,500 rpm. He rounds out his arsenal with a high-80s changeup and high-70s curveball. While those two pitches aren't as effective as his fastball and slider, he showed more confidence throwing his changeup as he got further into the 2022 season, adding a different spin axis to the pitch to attack hitters on both sides of the plate. His changeup was his most devastating pitch, with a whiff rate over 55% and a chase rate over 38%. His curveball has a tendency to blend with his slider at times, but it still shows enough to profile as an average offering. While Painter's pitch mix is excellent, he also shows remarkable poise and maturity on the mound, especially for a 19-year-old. Despite his length he has a repeatable delivery with good body control, excellent hand feel out front and a strong ability to control the running game. He has plus-plus control and walked just two batters in 28.1 Double-A innings. Painter has the traits to profile as a top-of-the-rotation starter in the major leagues.
The Future: Painter bulldozed through the Class A levels on his way to finishing the season with five starts at Double-A. He will start the 2023 season back at Reading, but he's on track to make his MLB debut during the season. He could quickly make his presence felt near the top of the rotation.
Track Record: Painter a unanimous choice for the 2021 Preseason High School All-America team, voted on by scouting directors. He continued to shine during his senior season at Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Lauderdale, and the Phillies drafted him 13th overall and signed him to an under-slot $3.9 million. Painter made four appearances in the Florida Complex League after signing, striking out 12 batters in six scoreless innings before finishing the season in instructional league. In 2022 he emerged as one of the top pitching prospects in the sport, rising three levels to Double-A Reading while showcasing a combination of mound maturity beyond his years and an explosive four-pitch arsenal filled with above-average to double-plus offerings. Painter didn't give up an earned run over his first 32 innings as a pro and finished 2022 with a 1.56 ERA and 155 strikeouts and 25 walks over 103.2 innings. He was named the inaugural BA Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
Scouting Report: The 6-foot-7, 215-pound righthander stands out for his imposing body on the mound and an electric arsenal that stacks up against any prospect in the minor leagues. Painter's fastball averages just over 96 mph and tops out at 101 with plus-plus induced vertical break and spin rates around 2,400 rpm, and he has excellent command of the pitch. His primary secondary offering is a low-80s slider that averages close to a foot of horizontal break and spin rates over 2,500 rpm. He rounds out his arsenal with a high-80s changeup and high-70s curveball. While those two pitches aren't as effective as his fastball and slider, he showed more confidence throwing his changeup as he got further into the 2022 season, adding a different spin axis to the pitch to attack hitters on both sides of the plate. His changeup was his most devastating pitch, with a whiff rate over 55% and a chase rate over 38%. His curveball has a tendency to blend with his slider at times, but it still shows enough to profile as an average offering. While Painter's pitch mix is excellent, he also shows remarkable poise and maturity on the mound, especially for a 19-year-old. Despite his length he has a repeatable delivery with good body control, excellent hand feel out front and a strong ability to control the running game. He has plus-plus control and walked just two batters in 28.1 Double-A innings. Painter has the traits to profile as a top-of-the-rotation starter in the major leagues.
The Future: Painter bulldozed through the Class A levels on his way to finishing the season with five starts at Double-A. He will start the 2023 season back at Reading, but he's on track to make his MLB debut during the season. He could quickly make his presence felt near the top of the rotation.
Track Record: The No. 2 prep pitcher in the 2021 draft class, Painter became the highest drafted player ever out of the power program Calvary Christian High in Fort Lauderdale. He signed with the Phillies for a $3.9 million after being taken 13th overall. Painter impressed in a brief pro debut, striking out 12, walking none and allowing four hits in six scoreless innings in the Florida Complex League.
Scouting Report: Painter has an advanced approach for a prep arm to go along with an impressive four-pitch arsenal, led by a fastball that ticked up from the low 90s in 2020 to sitting in the mid 90s and touching 98 mph at instructional league. The pitch has shown encouraging metrics and is a plus offering. Painter shows confidence in his changeup, throwing the pitch in any count and to both lefthanded and righthanded hitters while adding a different spin axis to it this summer. He throws an above-average mid-80s slider with good spin, and he rounds out his mix with a curveball that flashes plus at times. Painter has plus control, an easy arm action and a repeatable delivery out of an imposing 6-foot-7 frame, giving him the upside to develop into a future No. 2 or 3 starter.
The Future: Painter spent his time at instructional league honing his offspeed offerings, including getting his curveball to a more consistent point and keeping the same spin axis on his changeup that he showed this summer. He'll make his full-season debut in 2022.
Track Record: The No. 2 prep pitcher in the 2021 draft class, Painter became the highest drafted player ever out of the power program Calvary Christian High in Fort Lauderdale. He signed with the Phillies for $3.9 million after being taken 13th overall. Painter impressed in a brief pro debut, striking out 12, walking none and allowing four hits in six scoreless innings in the Florida Complex League.
Scouting Report: Painter has an advanced approach for a prep arm to go along with an impressive four-pitch arsenal, led by a fastball that ticked up from the low 90s in 2020 to sitting in the mid 90s and touching 98 mph at instructional league. The pitch has shown encouraging metrics and is a plus offering. Painter shows confidence in his changeup, throwing the pitch in any count and to both lefthanded and righthanded hitters while adding a different spin axis to it this summer. He throws an above-average mid-80s slider with good spin, and he rounds out his mix with a curveball that flashes plus at times. Painter has plus control, an easy arm action and a repeatable delivery out of an imposing 6-foot-7 frame, giving him the upside to develop into a future No. 2 or 3 starter.
The Future: Painter spent his time at instructional league honing his offspeed offerings, including getting his curveball to a more consistent point and keeping the same spin axis on his changeup that he showed this summer. He’ll make his full-season debut in 2022.
Painter established himself as the top pitcher in the high school class last summer and entered the season as the sole unanimous selection on Baseball America's preseason All-America Team, as voted on by scouting directors. He was never the hardest thrower on the field, but it is difficult to find a pitcher in this year's class who checks as many boxes as Painter—which has led to comparisons to 2020 prep righthander Mick Abel. Painter is a 6-foot-6, 230-pound righty with a buttery smooth delivery and a tremendously loose, easy arm action that should give him above-average or plus command in the future. It's rare to put 60-grade control on a prep arm, but some scouts have even gone as far as putting 70 grades on his future control. In terms of stuff, Painter has a four-pitch mix that's above-average or better across the board. This spring, Painter has run his fastball up into the upper 90s at his peak, and he's held 94-95 mph deep into his outings, which is a solid tick up from the low 90s range he settled into last summer. His best secondary is a changeup in the low 80s that scouts put plus grades on, and he throws both a curveball and a slider. Painter's breaking stuff has been inconsistent at times, but he's shown enough flashes and general feel for spin for both to project as above-average in the future. Painter was just OK during his first few starts of the season, which caused him to lose his grip on the “consensus top prep arm” label of the class that he entered the season with. Despite that, and despite the industry's general hesitance to spend significant draft capital on high school righthanders, Painter checked all of the boxes to become a first-round pick. Calvary Christian had three players drafted in the 2010s (Luke Jackson, Jake Eder, Raynel Delgado) but Painter should become the highest drafted of the bunch, and the highest ever for the program.
Career Transactions
RHP Andrew Painter roster status changed by Reading Fightin Phils.
Reading Fightin Phils transferred RHP Andrew Painter from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
Reading Fightin Phils placed RHP Andrew Painter on the 7-day injured list.
Philadelphia Phillies invited non-roster RHP Andrew Painter to spring training.
RHP Andrew Painter roster status changed by Philadelphia Phillies.
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