Categories: Phillies Nuggets with Tim Kelly

Phillies Nuggets: Painter, Bohm & more

Andrew Painter is the top prospect in the Phillies organization. (Cheryl Pursell)

CLEARWATER — Mum was the word on the status of RHP Andrew Painter after Saturday’s Grapefruit League win by the Philadelphia Phillies over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“We don’t have any update on Andrew,” manager Rob Thomson said. “Hopefully tomorrow we’ll have some more information, but when we do, then we’ll update it.”

While Thomson admitted that he knows what tests Painter has undergone, he declined to specify them in his postgame media session. He also didn’t get into whether Painter will receive a second opinion on his elbow.

After a two-inning Grapefruit League debut Wednesday in which his fastball topped out at 99 mph, Painter reported feeling elbow tenderness Thursday. Friday, Thomson revealed to the media that Painter was undergoing tests.

If you’re looking for a potential silver lining, Thomson did say that Painter seemed to be in good spirits Saturday, and the 19-year-old did tell the team he was feeling better Friday. Whether that means better like 100% or better than he felt Thursday remains unclear at least until Sunday.

Earlier this week, Phillies Nation‘s Ty Daubert ranked Painter as the top overall prospect in the organization. MLB Pipeline had ranked Painter as the No. 6 prospect in all of baseball in their most recent update.

Across three levels of the minor leagues last season, the former first-round pick went 6-2 with a 1.56 ERA over 103 2/3 innings pitched. Despite having never pitched above the Double-A level, Painter appeared to have a legitimate chance of making the Opening Day roster for the Phillies before experiencing the discomfort.

Bohm’s Big Spring Continues

A year ago, Alec Bohm narrowly made the 26-man roster for the Phillies, and was on the bench as Bryson Stott started at third base on Opening Day.

But armed with increased muscle, Bohm appears to be a legitimate breakout candidate in 2023.

Saturday, the former first-round pick went 2-3 with a two-run home run that traveled 382 feet to the opposite field:

Saturday morning, Larry Bowa and Charlie Manuel spoke glowingly of Bohm in a conversation with Phillies Nation. For his part, the current manager of the Phillies is pretty impressed by how Bohm has looked so far this spring.

“[He’s been] great,” Thomson said of Bohm. “He’s added strength … he’s starting to get the head out … he’s starting to pull the ball on balls that he should pull. And then you see today where he hits the opposite-field home run, we don’t want him to lose that, because that’s who he is. [He’s] playing really good defense … very confident … he’s a different guy than he was at this time last year, he really is.”

The Nuggets

While it’s impossible not to notice that Aaron Nola is currently a day ahead of Zack Wheeler in the pitching order, Thomson said Saturday that either one could get the ball when the Phillies play in Texas on Opening Day. Nola has made five consecutive Opening Day starts for the Phillies, while Wheeler has never had the chance to do so.

Ranger Suárez will not pitch for the Phillies before leaving to join Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. There are no health concerns with the 27-year-old, who did pitch in a simulated game earlier this week.
Nola said that after pitching 230 2/3 inning combined between the regular and postseasons last year, rest was the most important priority to him, which is why he’s not in the WBC.
Gregory Soto continues to train in the Dominican Republic, but there’s no news to report as he deals with visa issues.