It’s been two years since Andrew Painter suffered an injury in spring training just as he was set to join the Phillies rotation. Now, after Tommy John surgery and the long rehab that goes with it, Painter is making notable progress. Phillies manager Rob Thomson told reporters that the 21-year-old will start for the Clearwater Threshers on Friday, which will be his first appearance in a game situation since he threw 15.2 innings for Glendale in the Arizona Fall League.

Thomson didn’t elaborate on how many pitches Painter will throw for Clearwater in his return, saying only that he will throw a “few innings” worth of pitches. It will be the first time since September of 2022 that Painter has pitched in an affiliated game for the Phillies with just the 2023 spring training outing and AFL appearances on his resume since then.

The Phillies kept Painter in extended spring training when camp broke and he has continued to rehab with Phillies personnel keeping a close eye on him. During spring training, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said that the Phillies hope is to have Painter join the rotation in Philadelphia sometime around “mid-summer.” No matter where he is pitching the Phillies plan to be economical with the innings that Painter throws this season.

Another Phillies pitching prospect, Mick Abel, who has become good friends with Painter is looking forward to seeing his friend get back on the mound. “We were both drafted out of high school and there was a lot of publicity around us, so we sort of bonded and became friends. I know how hard he has worked to get back on the mound and it’s great that he is going to be back out there,” said Abel. Ironically, Abel is also scheduled to pitch Friday night for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.