Phillies’ top pitching prospect, Andrew Painter, returned to the mound in the Arizona Fall League after nearly two years away following Tommy John surgery. Painter, ranked Just Baseball’s No. 2 pitching prospect, made his first appearance in almost 600 days, delivering a fastball that regularly hit 97-100 MPH. His two-inning outing saw some rust, particularly with location, but he struck out two batters and showed flashes of the dominance that made him a standout in 2022. Painter’s return marked an exciting start to the AFL season.
Another standout performance came from Tigers prospect Josue Briceño, who smashed three home runs in one game, including one off Painter. Briceño, a C/1B, has shown impressive power and may transition to first base, especially after being sidelined by a knee injury. His bat is a potential breakout, showcasing plus power and solid contact rates.
Andrew Painter
Other prospects also impressed, including Dodgers’ Zyhir Hope, Cubs’ Moises Ballesteros, and Padres’ Ethan Salas. Hope’s explosive athleticism and swing mechanics stood out, while Ballesteros continued to hit well despite questions about his defense. Salas, an 18-year-old catching prospect, showed improvement both at the plate and behind it, signaling his high upside.
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