The Andrew Painter Timeline takes another hit after latest start in Triple-A

The Phillies’ top pitching prospect, Andrew Painter, was back on the bump for Lehigh Valley yesterday and yet again, it didn’t exactly clear the path for him to make the leap to The Show.

Another not-so-great start for Andrew Painter…

Andrew Painter takes the mound in today's @MiLB Free Game of the Day!

The @Phillies' No. 1 prospect and Justin Crawford (No. 3) lead the @IronPigs vs. @Mets No. 9 prospect Drew Gilbert and the @SyracuseMets.

Watch LIVE: https://t.co/SRvSMp0eb1 pic.twitter.com/ONMj3P1MFr

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 13, 2025

Painter went 5 innings, allowing 3 earned runs on 6 hits with 4 strikeouts, no walks, and 2 home runs allowed. All the damage came in his final two innings as he hit 76 pitches on the day.

Andrew Painter works around a 2-out double to strike out Joey Meneses to end the first inning … 4 swings and miss from Painter in the inning after just 9 in his last start pic.twitter.com/77DBdK1kJx

— Mitch Rupert (@Mitch_Rupert) July 13, 2025

Andrew Painter over his last 7 starts:

33.2 IP
6.15 ERA
1.57 WHIP
35 K

— Kirk Snyder (@dynastyinfo411) July 13, 2025

It’s a familiar pattern by now: flashes of dominance, then one or two mistakes that leave the yard. Through 12 Triple-A starts, Painter has now allowed 11 home runs and carries a 5.01 ERA into the All-Star break.

Andrew Painter allows a 2-run home run to Francisco Alvarez in the fourth inning, and here is where I really don’t understand the pitch selection. You’ve got a guy who hit .178 and .159 against breaking balls the last two years and you throw him 4 fastballs in five pitches pic.twitter.com/6hSIAIRGcS

— Mitch Rupert (@Mitch_Rupert) July 13, 2025

The Phillies have preached patience with Painter as he continues his return from Tommy John surgery, and it’s clear the raw stuff is still there but so is the rust. The “July-ish” return timeline to the big leagues that was floated earlier this season is starting to feel optimistic.

For now, the Phillies plan focuses on hitting the “reset button” over the All-Star break and having Andrew Painter rest up and recalibrate for the second half. That’s the only move you can make, really.

I one hand, I’m not concerned about AAA statistics in the slightest. Andrew Painter can work his shit out and let up a million runs for all I care. If that’s happening while he continues to sharpen his arsenal for The Show, then we live with it and pray to god things work out when he arrives in South Philly.

Don’t panic on Andrew Painter—This is exactly what AAA is for

This organization has repeatedly said that Andrew Painter is the best pitching prospect maybe in the history of the franchise. If Andrew Painter was untouchable last year and really, up to two weeks ago, then he’s untouchable now.

I don’t like anyone being untouchable, but unfortunately, those have been the marching orders for years at this point, and the 21-year old Andrew Painter was given that label. The fact remains that the Phillies have rotation questions looming and at least right now, Andrew Painter is not answering them.

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