Zack Wheeler recently had surgery to remove a blood clot near his right shoulder, and there’s currently no set timetable for his return. As a result, the Philadelphia Phillies may be without their ace for an extended stretch.
While the Phillies still have dependable starters, September roster expansions could open the door for a fresh face in the rotation. FanSided’s Zachary Rotman predicted that the club might promote top prospect Andrew Painter.
“In a perfect world, Painter would get more development time in Triple-A,” Rotman wrote. “But can the Phillies really afford to wait? Wheeler is sidelined indefinitely, and the rest of the rotation is filled with uncertainty.
Will Aaron Nola regain his form? Can Ranger Suárez shake off his poor second-half luck? Will Jesús Luzardo find any consistency? Is Taijuan Walker truly reliable? Right now, Cristopher Sánchez might be the only starter they can confidently count on — and that’s not ideal.”
Painter, the Phillies’ first-round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, is ranked the No. 10 overall prospect in baseball. He missed last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, and the organization has been waiting for the right time to bring him up.
His emergence is also a key reason why the Phillies were comfortable parting with fellow pitching prospect Mick Abel.
“At the very least, the Phillies should see what Painter can offer before the season ends,” Rotman added. “If he struggles, they still have other options for October — even if those options come with their own concerns. But if he thrives, he could become a major factor in the postseason. With a healthy lead in the NL East, Philadelphia can afford to give him a look now.”
Given the uncertainty surrounding Wheeler’s return, Painter becomes a compelling option. Walker is currently in the rotation, but he might be better suited for a bullpen role. If that change is made, it could create a clear path for the Phillies to test whether Painter can help fuel a World Series push.
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