The Philadelphia Phillies have one of baseball’s premier pitching prospects on the cusp of reaching the majors —they made the obvious move with top prospect.
The team added top star to its 40-man roster, protecting him from being selected in the upcoming Rule 5 Draft. They also placed pitcher Alex McFarlane and outfielder Gabriel Rincones Jr. on the 40-man.
Painter, who turns 23 in April, remains a top-tier talent despite dealing with injuries. The 6-foot-7 right-hander missed the entire 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery and posted a 5.40 ERA at Triple-A this year, but there’s still plenty of time for him to develop.
Rincones, a left-handed-hitting outfielder, put up a .430 slugging percentage in Triple-A this season. McFarlane spent the year at High-A, where he recorded a 4.72 ERA.
All three players had reached the service-time threshold that would have made them eligible to be taken by another team in the Rule 5 Draft. By protecting them, the Phillies ensure they remain in the organization as they continue their development with the hope of contributing at the major-league level in the near future.