Andrew Painter Optioned: Phillies Demote Top Pitching Prospect

After another rough outing on Wednesday afternoon, the Phillies have finally pulled the plug on top pitching prospect Andrew Painter.

Andrew Painter's Tough Start to the 2026 Season

The 23-year-old fell to 1-8 with 53 strikeouts and 24 walks over his first 14 (12 starts) Major League appearances.

Who Will Replace Painter in the Phillies Rotation?

So who replaces him?

The Phillies don't have a lot of options in the organization, but one possibility is Alan Rangel, who pitches tonight for Lehigh Valley.

In six MLB games, Rangel has pitched in 14 innings with a 2.57 ERA, 13 strikeouts, and six walks. This year, in 13 games with the Iron Pigs, the 28-year-old has appeared in 13 games, going 3-4 with a 3.74 ERA in 65 innings pitched

It's been a disappointing start to his big league career for Painter, who was selected by the Phillies in the first round (13^th overall) of the 2021 MLB Draft. He quickly dominated his way through the Phillies system, but his rise was derailed by an arm injury, which forced him to miss the entire 2023 and 2024 seasons following Tommy John surgery.

The Phillies are hoping a stint in the minors can get him back on track, but that is no guarantee after registering a 5.40 ERA in 22 starts at Triple-A in 2025.