Top Phillies prospect Andrew Painter recommended for Tommy John surgery

Top Phillies prospect Andrew Painter recommended for Tommy John surgery

It’s the kind of news Phillies fans were hoping to avoid hearing. Andrew Painter, the team’s No. 1 and MLB’s No. 8 prospect, is being recommended for Tommy John surgery.

Back in March, Painter slightly tore his UCL ligament. Initially, the hope was that the surgery could be avoided, attempting to instead slowly work his arm back into shape. It’s a rather uncommon treatment for such an injury, but one the Phillies opted for over the course of the season.

But in the four months since the initial injury, things aren’t getting any better. In turn, Philadelphia’s medical team has recommended Tommy John surgery and shut down Painter for the rest of the year.

“Considering the timing of the season and that Painter is still experiencing symptoms, the Phillies medical staff has recommended he undergo a right elbow UCL reconstruction with ulnar nerve transposition surgery. Painter has a surgical consult with Dr. Neal El Attrache on Monday, July 24, 2023 in Los Angeles, Calif.”

Quote Via MLB Trade Rumors

Dave Dombrowski said Painter wouldn’t be viewed as a viable rotation piece following the initial injury. His statement sucked the hope out of a lot of Phillies fans, many of whom were hopeful he might get a call-up even this year.

I think Painter getting the surgery is ultimately the right move, though. Tommy John is no longer the career-ending/altering injury it used to be. At this point, it’s more uncommon for a pitcher to not get Tommy John surgery.

It’s become much more widespread and with modern medicine and technology, the recovery is no longer as grueling and difficult as it once was.

The thing that has fans frustrated is how long it took for us to get here. Again, this injury was first diagnosed back in early March. I understand wanting to hold off on a drastic measure like surgery, but this just seems like too long a time to have waited.

Still, I think the Phillies were just trying to avoid this surgery by any means necessary, and I can’t say I really blame them for that.

As a Phillies fan myself, seeing this news today put a pit in my stomach. I haven’t been this excited about a prospect coming up in a long long time. I’m glad he’s finally getting the surgery and starting the road to recovery.

He was a dominant force last year posting a 1.56 ERA across High-A and Double-A. He also struck out a whopping 38.7% of batters while only walking 6.2% of hitters. The stuff is clearly there and it’s easy to see why fans are so excited to see him make his debut.

Which is why this injury sucks so much. Truth is, Andrew Painter was very likely going to need Tommy John at some point in his career — better to do it now while he is still young, I guess.

I just hope he can continue his excellence once coming back. Because he will be something special if he can come back truly at 100 percent. I would hate to see this young man’s career ruined because of a stupid injury.

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