Andrew Painter’s confidence shows in his highly anticipated debut

FORT MYERS, FL – Tell this to Andrew Pinter: He doesn’t lack confidence.

In his Grapefruit League debut Wednesday in the Phillies’ most highly anticipated spring training game in years, with a chance to take his first lead in the contest for a rotation spot, Painter broke a cutter who only started playing with this winter. He recorded a home run—against Minnesota Twins veteran Max Keibler, no less—in the first of two innings at Hammond Stadium.

But Painter threw mostly fastballs in 29 starts, two innings. He only got one swing and missed, but threw 17 batters. He allowed two hit singles on consecutive pitches in the second inning and one on a sacrifice fly.

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As the 19-year-old walked off the mound, manager Rob Thompson waited for him at the top step of the dugout with a handshake.

For posterity, Painter took the mound at 1:17 p.m., hitting his first pitch against Twins leadoff Joey Gallo at 98 mph and coming on high and out of the strike zone. He gave up the single run with three hits, including a hit single by Twins star Carlos Correa.

The plotter’s first hit came on a forward footcutter that immobilized Kepler. The painter mixed the cutter and his slider with a fastball that topped out at 99 mph.

It was the most anticipated Phillies spring training game since, well, when?

At least since March 9, 2019, when Bryce Harper played his first game for the Phillies redshirt. But it came just a week after he was presented at a top-level press conference that was, in some ways, at least dramatic. Probably since March 4, 2010, when Roy Halladay made his first spring training start for the Phillies. But Doc was already a Cy Young Award winner by then, firmly among the best pitchers in baseball.

How about March 5, 2004, when 20-year-old Cole Hamels hit Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez back-to-back? This certainly made news. But no one expected Hummels to make the team that year, and he didn’t. It took another two years before he made his major league debut.

Painter is a serious candidate to fill a vacancy in the Phillies’ starting rotation. His primary competition, lefty Billy Walter, was impressive last year as an assistant to the injured Zack Wheeler. Walter will start Thursday against the Red Sox in the second half of a two-game road trip to Fort Myers.

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