WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup 2018 Best Pitcher Andrew Painter makes brilliant MLB debut

WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup 2018 Best Starting Pitcher Andrew Painter made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut, earning the win for the Philadelphia Phillies against the Washington Nationals, 3-2, in front of 40,709 fans at Citizens Bank Park. Painter allowed one run on four hits and a walk, while striking out eight, in 5.1 innings of work.

Painter said postgame that working ahead in the count helped him "get in the driver's seat".

He described the fans' standing ovation "something you dream of as a kid."

Painter also credited All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto for guidance. Realmuto, who represented USA at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, is considered "the best catcher in baseball".

Born in 2003, Painter was playing for Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, when he helped USA win the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup 2018. He started two games, including the World Championship Final against the hosts, Panama. He went 2-0, allowing only one earned run over 10 innings and striking out 13.

He had already committed to the University of Florida, but he never played college baseball.

The Philadelphia Phillies drafted him with the 13th overall pick in 2021, and Painter agreed to a US$3.9 million bonus.

In 2022, he went from Single-A to Double-A. posting a combined 1.56 ERA and striking out 155 in 203.2 innings. The Phillies named him their Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

Painter underwent Tommy John surgery in July 2023 and did not play in 2024. He returned to the Phillies Double-A team in 2025, and after one month, Philadelphia promoted him to Triple-A. He started 26 games, posting a 5.26 ERA and striking out 123 over 118 innings.

He represented the Phillies at the All-Star Futures Game in Atlanta.