2021 first-round pick Andrew Painter strikes out 13 consecutive batters for Single-A Clearwater

Andrew Painter’s professional baseball career is off to a riveting start. Including the six scoreless innings he threw last season in rookie ball, Painter has yet to allow an earned run in 18 innings pitched.

His outing on Saturday against the Tampa Tarpons might be the most impressive one we’ll hear about all season long from the Phillies minor league system. He struck out 14 hitters through five shutout innings.

Following a first-inning double to the Tarpons’ No. 2 hitter Antonio Gomez and a flyout against the next batter Madison Santos, Painter, 19, struck out 13 consecutive batters. He was lifted from the game after five innings and 70 pitches. Malik Binns and Tommy McCollum picked up where Painter left off, combining to strikeout eight batters through four innings to secure a shutout for the Threshers.

Andrew Painter discusses the 3-0 victory and his 14Ks on April 23.

5.0 IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 14K pic.twitter.com/Vz3VREQk4N

— Clearwater Threshers Baseball (@Threshers) April 24, 2022

Video of Painter’s outing is unavailable for now, but the Statcast data provides some context on just how dominant the 13th overall pick from 2021 was on Saturday. He averaged 97.4 mph on his fastball and maxed out at 99.8. Tampa hitters swung and missed against Painter 20 times.

Statcast data on Andrew Painter's gem tonight for @Threshers.

His line again: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 14 K, 70 pitches, 50 strikes, 20 (!) whiffs

Topped out at 99.8 mph in the 3rd inning. Averaged 97.4 mph on the heater. Tampa couldn't handle the heater, whiffing 15 times on it. pic.twitter.com/innkw1r46c

— Sam Dykstra (@SamDykstraMiLB) April 24, 2022

Overall, Painter has struck out 30 batters in 12 innings through three starts for Single-A Clearwater.

Mick Abel, Phillies Nation’s No. 1 Phillies prospect, also took the mound on Saturday. He struck out nine batters over five innings against the Asheville Tourists in Lakewood.

Let's watch Mick Abel strike out nine Tourists from Saturday. pic.twitter.com/hLvYsAh6XH

— Jersey Shore BlueClaws (@BlueClaws) April 24, 2022

It’s safe to say Saturday was a good day for the two best pitchers in the Phillies farm system.

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