Andrew Painter is the top prospect in the Phillies' organization. (Cheryl Pursell)
Over the past year, perhaps no phrase has been uttered more regarding the Phillies than "July-ish," the loose timetable that president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has put on when No. 1 prospect Andrew Painter could arrive at the majors.
While Dombrowski has left wiggle room for the possibility that Painter could debut in June or August, it's June 22 and a promotion of the former first-round pick doesn't seem imminent.
In fact, listening to manager Rob Thomson talk before Sunday's series finale against the New York Mets, one thing seemed clear: the Phillies are committed to treating Painter like any other Triple-A player and making him earn his promotion to the majors.
Thought this was interesting stuff from Rob Thomson to @ReluctantSE and myself regarding Andrew Painter.
I think he’ll still be here this year, but the Phillies seem very committed to treating him like every Triple-A player and making him earn a promotion. pic.twitter.com/OyCMzBCB5C
Thomson was asked Sunday if he has a handle on what Painter is now as opposed to what he could be in July.
"Not really," Thomson acknowledged. "I've seen the tape ... I've seen him throw in Spring Training games a few times ... actually once, and that was the game he got hurt against Minnesota. But I've seen his BPs and things like that, but I'm just going off of, a lot of times, what other people tell me and report to me.
"I think the poise is very good," Thomson continued. "The composure is very good. If he stays healthy and he's pitching well, then he deserves to be here."
Thomson went on to say that he doesn't stay in contact with Painter any more than he would with a typical Triple-A player.
Painter made his eighth start for Lehigh Valley Saturday evening, allowing five hits and walking four across five innings, while limiting the Rochester Red Wings to two runs. It wasn't a disastrous start by any means, but it speaks to a pitcher that's still adjusting — both to pitching again after undergoing Tommy John surgery nearly two years ago and the competition at the Triple-A level.
Not a crisp night for Andrew Painter, but he strands the bases loaded in his final inning with his fifth strikeout … He finish with 5 IP, 5 hits, 2 runs, 2 ER, 4 BB, 5 Ks … 89 pitches, 53 strikes, 11 swings and miss pic.twitter.com/vHCCSYZCnu
Over his eight starts for the IronPigs, Painter has a 4.25 ERA. He's struck out 40 batters, but also allowed 34 hits over 36 innings. As On Pattison's Anthony SanFilippo wrote earlier this month, the Phillies are embracing the learning curve with Painter, who hasn't experienced many performance-related hurdles to this point in his career.
They can afford to do that considering they have arguably the best starting rotation in baseball with Zack Wheeler, Ranger Suárez, Cristopher Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo all pitching at All-Star levels. Mick Abel ran into adversity Saturday against the Mets, but that's fine when he's the No. 5 starter. Aaron Nola is also expected to return from a stress fracture in his right ribcage at some point after the All-Star Break.
None of this is to suggest that Painter won't still make an impact for the Phillies in 2025 — he probably will. But right now, he's a 22-year-old feeling his way through Triple-A. And until he either starts to kick in the door or an injury to another starter forces the hands of the Phillies, he's going to remain at Lehigh Valley.
