Official Andrew Painter discussion thread

[Christopher]

For fun, let's just keep it all in one spot and see how it progresses throughout the season. It's definitely a Top 3 topic for the 2023 season.

Here's the VERY LATEST:

CLEARWATER, Fla. — An MRI on March 3 revealed that 19-year-old Phillies pitcher Andrew Painter has a right proximal ulnar collateral ligament sprain, according to the Phillies. Painter sought a second opinion from Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who confirmed a UCL sprain. The pitcher will rest for four weeks and then begin a light tossing progression, according to the team.

[Christopher]

Generally speaking, I think there's a lot here to be encouraged about. He's not out for the year. He will be handled deliberately and with caution. He will not be overworked, and -- especially -- he will not be overworked during the first half of the year. He should be capped around 110 innings this year and, in a perfect world, a good portion of those innings come in meaningful games.

[BelmontShore]

I'm disappointed. I really wanted to see him start.

[Captain Obvious]

Generally speaking, I think there's a lot here to be encouraged about. He's not out for the year. He will be handled deliberately and with caution. He will not be overworked, and -- especially -- he will not be overworked during the first half of the year. He should be capped around 110 innings this year and, in a perfect world, a good portion of those innings come in meaningful games.

Which what was everyone (at least on this forum) was expecting at playoff time last year.

[vegasphilly]

Do we know what "GRADE" the sprain is?

1, 2 or 3 ?


Seems like "surgery" is a COMMON option with this injury.....

[Michael Jack]

UCL sprain almost always leads to TJ surgery. It might be better just to get it over with right now. The chances of that healing to where he can throw a baseball in the high 90's is remote. Instead,they will give him rest, then probably a PSP injection, then have him throw again, maybe in May, then he will either blow it out completely or be shut down again. No, I am not a doctor, just a baseball fan, who has witnessed this dilema several times.All you have to do is look how Bryce Harper was handled last year. I wish Painter the best and will be praying for him, but this is why there's no such thing as a pitching prospect. Repeat after me: "There is no such thing as a pitching prospect."

[Christopher]

As others pointed out though, it's not at the point now where it REQUIRES surgery.
Pre-emptive surgery, before it's medically warranted, of such a serious magnitude is both an unwise risk and medically unsound.
Some pitchers simply don't recover from TJS. You don't do it until there are no other options.

[jimbomill]

I'm disappointed. I really wanted to see him start.

Same for me. It has dampened down things a bit, but all in all, the news is not horrible.