SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — On March 1, 2023, Andrew Painter threw his last competitive pitch. 591 days – and one surgically repaired elbow – later, he returned to action Saturday and completed two innings of work in the Arizona Fall League.
Painter, MLB’s No. 32 prospect and the Phillies’ No. 2 prospect, was diagnosed with a right UCL strain. Four months later, in July 2023, he underwent Tommy John surgery to repair it.
Painter, the highest-ranked pitching prospect in the Arizona Fall League, was a late addition to the Glendale Desert Dogs’ roster. Preliminary Fall League rosters were released on Sept.