SURPRISE, Arizona — Top Phillies Pitching prospect Andrew Painter took the next step in his recovery from Tommy John elbow surgery Tuesday when he made his sixth and final start in the Arizona Fall League. Pitching for the Glendale Desert Dogs, he allowed one run on two hits and two walks, striking out six in 2⅔ innings against the Surprise Saguaros.

The 21-year-old right-hander threw 53 pitches, including 33 strikes. Painter threw 28 fastballs, 16 sliders, seven curveballs and two changeups. He averaged 95.8 mph on his fastball, reaching a top speed of 98.9 mph.

“(I feel) pretty good,” Painter said. “The fastball command towards the end of the season (was) a little shaky, but that’s all part of it. … I would have liked to go three (innings), obviously, but the pitch count was up. (I) would have liked to go three, but (I) came out healthy and that’s all you could ask for.

» LEARN MORE: “World-class pitcher Roki Sasaki to be assigned to MLB, impacting free agent market”. Will the Phillies join the chase?

Painter missed the 2023 and 2024 seasons after tearing the UCL in his throwing elbow during spring training in 2023. He underwent Tommy John surgery in July 2023. He is undergoing rehabilitation in the AFL for five weeks.

Painter pitched three innings in his previous three starts. The Phillies had him pitch two innings in each of his first two AFL starts, before increasing his workload to three innings. He had a difficult pitch count in each start, and the number was not released to the media.

In six starts and 15⅔ innings, Painter posted a 2.30 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 18 strikeouts. He ranks second in the AFL in ERA and first in WHIP. Painter is a leading candidate to win the AFL Pitcher of the Year award, which will be announced during the league championship game on Saturday. Painter reported no setbacks and is happy with how his time in the Fall League has gone.

“I thought it was good,” Painter said. “I would say coming here I just wanted to compete and get a feel for what I’m doing, feel confident for 2025 and come away healthy. I’m just thinking about the offseason now and getting ready to go. To get into a game and a competitive atmosphere, you have to make adjustments and you don’t have time to plan everything, you just kind of just go for it.

Painter ran into trouble in the first inning when he allowed the first three batters of the game to reach base, loading the bases on the No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, Jac Caglianone of the Kansas City Royals. Painter walked leadoff Alejandro Osuna, allowed a hit to Cleveland Guardians prospect Chase DeLauter, then walked Royals catcher Carter Jensen.

Painter, however, managed to limit the damage, allowing a sacrifice fly to score a run, before retiring Texas Rangers shortstop Max Acosta and Baltimore Orioles outfielder Douglas Hodo to get out of trouble.

» LEARN MORE: Where have all the star center players gone? “‘Obvious’ position to meet Phillies’ needs lacks obvious solutions”.

Caglianone’s sacrifice fly represented the first run Painter had given up in his previous 11 innings.

Painter cruised through the second inning, striking out the side. His day was cut short in the third inning when he reached his pitch count limit with a runner on first base and two outs and Caglianone scheduled.

With the AFL in the books, Painter isn’t sure what’s next for him before spring training in February.

“I don’t know yet,” Painter said. “We haven’t talked about it yet. They want to get me out of here after I finish what I had to do here and now turn the next page and figure it out. I feel good. In 2025, I got my feet wet and was able to compete in a competitive atmosphere. I feel good about moving forward.