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Dave Dombrowski thinks Andrew Painter will pitch for the Phillies in 2023

Andrew Painter is out with a proximal UCL sprain. (Tim Kelly/Phillies Nation)

Andrew Painter is shut down from throwing for now, but there’s real hope that he will pitch for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2023.

Dave Dombrowski told reporters, including the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber, that Painter is on schedule to begin his throwing program once his four-week resting period concludes. The Phillies president of baseball operations added that he believes the 19-year-old will pitch for the big league club this season.

Many feared the worst when Painter reported tenderness in his right elbow following his first Grapefruit League outing against the Minnesota Twins. The Phillies went about a week without providing a formal update on his status as Painter sought a second opinion on his MRI from Dr. Neal ElAttrache.

If all goes well for Painter between now and the end of the month, he’ll begin a “light tossing progression.” It should take around six weeks to build him up from the time he’s ready to throw off the mound, so the Phillies are looking at a May return at the earliest.

With Painter out, Bailey Falter will likely begin the season as the club’s fifth starter. He had a nice outing against the Blue Jays in split squad action on Friday, throwing five innings and allowing only three hits and one earned run.