Phillies' prized prospect Painter undergoing tests on 'tender' elbow originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Just two days after his first spring training start with the Phillies, top prospect Andrew Painter is undergoing tests on a tender right elbow, manager Rob Thomson said after Friday's game against the Tigers.
Oof.
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Painter, who is competing with Bailey Falter and others for the fifth spot in the Phils' rotation, pitched two innings against the Twins Wednesday in Fort Myers. His fastball sat 96-98 mph and hit 99 multiple times.
Thomson said Painter came in Thursday with tenderness in the elbow and that more information is expected Saturday.
The 19-year-old right-hander opened the spring with as good a chance as any of his competitors to win the fifth starter's job. It's a battle that includes Painter, Falter, Cristopher Sanchez, Michael Plassmeyer and Nick Nelson.
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The Phillies will obviously be cautious with Painter, who was pitching in high school games less than two years ago. Last season was his first full year as a pro and he absolutely dominated, going 6-2 with a 1.56 ERA in 22 starts across three levels. He struck out 155, walked 25 and allowed just five home runs in 103⅔ innings.
(More coming ...)
