PHILADELPHIA (AP) 鈥� Andrew Painter hopped off the mound in excitement in the fifth inning after his 97.2 mph fastball got James Wood to strike out for a second time.
Phillies fans 鈥� some groups called themselves Andrew’s Painters, others 鈥� waved paintbrushes and erupted in cheers with each strikeout for the rookie pitcher.
Painter delivered a masterpiece in his major league debut.
The 22-year-old Painter 鈥� considered to have one of the top arms in any level of baseball 鈥� tossed four-hit ball and struck out eight over 5 1/3 innings Tuesday in the against the Washington Nationals. Painter tipped his cap to the cheering crowd of 40,709 fans as he left the mound in the sixth after he allowed a one-out single to C.J. Abrams.
鈥淚t was awesome,鈥� Painter said. 鈥淐rowd showed up tonight. Just kind of soaked all of it. I don’t think I could have drawn it up much better.鈥�
He struck out the side in the fifth, walked one and allowed a run when Abrams scored on a run-scoring single by Daylen Lile off reliever Tanner Banks.
Painter wanted to stay in the game and at least finish the inning. Phillies manager Rob Thomson wasn’t going to push the right-hander almost 1,000 days since his big league path was elongated by Tommy John surgery.
Thomson asked Painter on the mound visit if he enjoyed his first game.
鈥淗e shook his head no,鈥� Thomson said with a laugh. 鈥淭hen he figured out what I said and shook his head yes.鈥�
Painter received a rousing ovation as he made the long walk from the bullpen to the dugout before the game and kept the fans on their feet when he struck out Wood on a nasty 12-6 curveball to open the game. Painter kept the Nationals flailing at breaking balls and swinging over high hard stuff the rest of the game.
Painter mixed curves, sweepers and sliders with a fastball that nearly touched 100 mph and flashed every bit of greatness that has been predicted of him since he was the 13th overall pick in the 2021 amateur draft and signed for a $3.9 million bonus.
Painter sprinted through Philadelphia鈥檚 system in 2022, going 6-2 with a 1.48 ERA in 26 appearances spread across two Class A teams and Double-A Reading.
He hurt his elbow during spring training in 2023 and had later that year.
The 6-foot-7 right-hander emerged the top candidate to win the Phillies鈥� fifth starter job as he attempted to crack the rotation before his 20th birthday. Instead, the injury set him back at least two seasons, and he went 5-8 with a 5.26 ERA during two minor league stops last season.
He鈥檚 been deemed good to go and joins a stout rotation that this season will include Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher S谩nchez and Jes煤s Luzardo.
鈥淲e’ve been waiting a while for this,鈥� Thomson said. 鈥淪o have our players.鈥�
The two-time reigning NL East champion Phillies gave him needed run support with solo home runs from Kyle Schwarber and Adolis Garcia. Painter left with the Phillies leading 3-0.
鈥淗e didn’t seem fazed by anything out there,” Schwarber said. 鈥淭hat was pretty cool. I mean, even before the game, there’s no pacing, no nothing. Just felt like he was mentally prepared for what he was about to do. That’s impressive.鈥�
The first outing sure seemed a like preview for even more impressive starts over his career.
鈥淚 felt like I was in control of the pace of the game,鈥� Painter said.
Considered the organization’s top pitching prospect since Cole Hamels, Painter entered the season among all prospects in baseball. Painter gave up seven hits and struck out eight in 11 2/3 innings in spring training this year.
鈥淚f we can keep him healthy, this guy’s going to be really good for a long time,鈥� Thomson said. 鈥淗e’s going to have a really great career. He’s one of those upper-echelon guys. He’s got the combination of power and command. The future is bright for him.鈥�
Painter said every part of his game felt in sync, from pregame warmups to keeping his emotions in check while pitching in front of about 40 friends and family in his ticket group. He changed from his No. 24 jersey into a Phillies hoodie and shorts and jogged back onto the field after the final out for photos and hugs with his parents, former coaches and everyone who made the trip.
That included a kiss with his fianc茅e.
Painter took a knee before he ever threw a regular-season pitch. He posted proposal photos on Instagram in March with his girlfriend, Shelby.
What’s more nerve-wracking, proposing or taking the mound?
鈥淚’m not sure,鈥� Painter said with a laugh. 鈥淲e’ll revisit that.鈥�
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