Andrew Painter may be running out of time to make an impact for Phillies in 2023

The Philadelphia Phillies bet last offseason that No. 1 overall prospect Andrew Painter would be a key contributor for them during the 2023 season. But with each passing day, that feels less and less likely.

While the Phillies did get positive news 10 days ago when an MRI on Painter’s UCL showed healing, Painter continues to experience some of the same symptoms of discomfort in his right elbow that forced him to be shut down after a throwing session on July 6.

Currently, Painter isn’t throwing. Given that it’s now mid-July, is Painter running out of time to be able to ramp up and pitch for the Phillies late in the 2023 season?

“I don’t know,” manager Rob Thomson admitted Tuesday afternoon. “All I can tell you is we are going to be very careful with this guy. And we’re gonna take our time, and if that means he doesn’t pitch this year, then that’s what it is.”

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Are the Phillies at the point where Painter needs to be ramping up soon to have a realistic shot at pitching in 2023?

“Yeah, I’m not sure the timetable, but we’re kind of closing in on August now,” Thomson said. “So it’s getting late.”

Aaron Nola will make his first start of the second half Tuesday evening against the Milwaukee Brewers. He’s looking to bounce back after posting a 4.39 ERA and allowing 21 home runs in 19 starts prior to the All-Star Break. Zack Wheeler has a 4.04 ERA to show for his first 19 starts of the season. If the Phillies are going to make another deep playoff run in 2023, they’ll need significantly better results from both.

But there was a feeling that in addition to Ranger Suárez and Taijuan Walker, Painter had the chance to emerge as a mainstay in the rotation in 2023. Now, the Phillies find themselves in a hope for the best, expect the worse situation with Painter in regards to this season. Like with Zach Eflin last summer, the Phillies may still have some hope that Painter makes an impact in some way this year. But with the Aug. 1 trade deadline approaching, that’s no longer something that president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski can bank on.

And whether Painter only pitches a small amount in 2023 or not at all, the former first-round pick’s innings will unquestionably be restricted in 2024. That is, if there isn’t another setback that ultimately forces the former first-round pick to have surgery on his right elbow.

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