Phillies Mailbag: Painter, Relief Addition, Kepler in Center

We are back once again with the 97.3 ESPN Phillies Mailbag.  We take your questions and answer them on the air on The Sports Bash with Mike Gill.  Tune in each Tuesday afternoon to hear your questions answered on the air.

How soon could the Phillies see Andrew Painter in the big leagues?  Any concern about him skipping Double-A?
~Nick

The Phillies promoted their top prospect - and the one ranked number five overall on MLB Pipeline - to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.   Andrew Painter will make his Triple-A debut on Thursday, provided the weather does not interfere with rotation plans.  It seems apparent that the Phillies think there is little left to accomplish at Low-A Clearwater.

Let's not forget that Painter hopped over both Class-A Jersey Shore and Double-A Reading to Triple-A.

The numbers show four starts and a total of 11 1/3 innings.  Painter has struck out 12, walking just one.   The results were a WHIP of .97 and an ERA of 3.97.   The Phillies organization sees something above the numbers.

The original plan was that Painter might be able to help the Major League club by July.  They hope to see him progress, but to do so they need to build up his innings.  Not too many, of course, since the Phillies hope that he will be able to be with them until the end.

Let us not forget that Cole Hamels similarly skipped over Double-A.  After three starts at the end of 2005, Hamels began 2006 in Class-A, four starts between Lakewood and Clearwater, before jumping to Triple-A for four starts and then up to the Major Leagues, debuting in 2006 and making 23 big league starts.

So no, I have no concern about him skipping the levels.  I think it is better that he seems some of the bats with big league experience at Triple-A.  He can then come help the Phillies sooner than later.

The Phillies believe (as do many scouts) that Painter is a big league talent.  I can see Painter forcing a timeline ahead of July with his performance.  But the ramp up begins on Thursday in Lehigh Valley.

Will this Daniel Robert help the Phillies bullpen?
~Brandon

The Phillies acquired reliever Daniel Robert from the Texas Rangers this past week.  The Phillies immediately optioned Robert to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.   But it seems clear that the Phillies are intent on building their bullpen options.

At this point, Robert is just an option.   From the right side, the Phillies bullpen has struggled.  Therefore, Robert was worth a shot.

Robert was drafted way back in 2017.  He made his professional debut in 2019, and of course the 2020 season did not take place in the minor leagues.

After mixed results in 2021, not great results in 2022, and so-so results in 2023, Robert seemed to begin to come into his own during the 2024 season.  Though limited to 35 games due to injury in 2024, Robert went 4-2 with a 2.70 ERA.

That earned him a spot on the Texas Rangers Roster last season, appearing in four games, with a 3.18 ERA and a 1-0 record.

Now 30 years old, the Rangers needed a roster spot and designated Robert for assignment, leading to the trade to the Phillies.

One nice advantage for the Phillies is that they had an open 40-man roster spot after the Kody Clemens trade.  They can also option Robert up and down to Triple-A as needed.  He is starting his Phillies organization career there.

With Jose Ruiz on the Injured List and Carlos Hernandez struggling, the Phillies could turn to Robert at some point to fill a right-handed spot in the bullpen.  But they will get a chance to look at him at Triple-A first.

Could Max Kepler see more time in center field?
~Ray

The Phillies used outfielder Max Kepler for the first time in center field on Sunday.  It was brief - Kepler appeared as a pinch hitter for Johan Rojas.  He then took his place in center field.  But the following inning, Brandon Marsh pinch ran for Nick Castellanos and entered as a center fielder, moving Kepler to right.

But I think there is a story here.

The Phillies did not choose to use Marsh as the pinch-hitter for Rojas, instead turning to Kepler.  It shows that confidence is higher in Kepler right now.  And they could have replaced him defensively with Marsh and chose not to.

With Weston Wilson back and hitting (.333 with a 1.000 OPS in limited action), the Phillies might wish to field an outfield that includes Wilson and Kepler at some point.  Wilson has just two games in center field in his minor league career.  Kepler, on the other hand, boasts 160 major league games in center field.

I could see Phillies manager Rob Thomson finding a way to include them both at the plate at some point.

Sunday, Wilson manned first base while Kyle Schwarber was in left field.  Would a Wilson/Kepler/Castellanos outfield be any worse than that defensively?  I do not think so.  So without a Bryce Harper half-day off, the Phillies could do that.

And after they have a lead, they could make a change for defense late.  Since Marsh is not hitting, they might have to think about it.