Andrew Painter moved one step closer to making his major league debut for the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday, as the 22-year-old right-hander made his first career appearance at the Triple-A level. It marked a significant milestone in his return from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in June 2023.
Fortunately for Painter, he had an experienced guide in the form of catcher Garrett Stubbs, whom IronPigs manager Anthony Contreras referred to as “an extension of the coaching staff,” according to Anthony SanFilippo of On Pattison.
Garrett Stubbs’ Mentorship Proves Vital
Painter’s catcher for the night was none other than former Phillies backup Garrett Stubbs, who brings six seasons of MLB experience and over 1,200 innings behind the plate. Stubbs, who has worked with elite pitchers like Gerrit Cole and Zack Wheeler, drew a crowd of reporters before the game to talk about working with one of baseball’s top pitching prospects.
“Everyone’s excited about Painter,” Stubbs said. “We all know how talented he is and what he’s capable of. He’s been through a lot early in his career, and getting to this point is a big accomplishment. I haven’t personally gone through what he has, but I’ve seen others deal with it. To be back pitching in real games at this level is incredible.”
Ranked as the Phillies’ No. 1 prospect and the No. 5 overall prospect in MLB, Painter showed why he’s so highly regarded. He struck out five of the first eight batters he faced, including a four-pitch strikeout of MLB’s top prospect Roman Anthony to start the game. On a pitch count of 60–65, Painter exited after three scoreless innings, allowing one hit, three walks, and recording five strikeouts, with 34 of his 60 pitches going for strikes.
Poise Under Pressure, Guided by Stubbs’ Advice
Painter’s composure was tested in the third inning when three two-out walks loaded the bases. He responded by inducing a pop-up from Blake Sabol on a full count to escape the inning unscathed—just the kind of moment Stubbs had prepped him for.
“Before the game, I told him there’s always going to be a point where things don’t go your way,” Stubbs told Phillies Nation’s Ty Daubert. “You have to be a competitor and figure out how to work through it.”
Painter echoed that cool-headedness after the game.
“I felt good out there,” he said. “It’s the same game—just different hitters and a different setting. The mound is still 60 feet, six inches. It was me and Stubby out there, and that’s the approach I take every outing.”
Stubbs playfully disagreed.
“Yeah, he’s lying,” he joked. “He was definitely a little nervous. But he looked great—he threw everything for strikes. The third inning got away a bit, probably some fatigue and adrenaline, but he handled it well. It was fun.”
The Phillies are eyeing a potential July debut for Painter, hoping to manage his workload with the postseason in mind. With his calm mindset and a veteran like Stubbs guiding him, the young righty is in a great position to succeed when his time comes.