Phillies Select High School Pitcher with Pick No. 13

The Philadelphia Phillies selected high school pitcher Andrew Painter with the team’s first pick, No. 13 overall in the 2021 MLB Draft on Sunday.

Painter of Calvary Christian Academy in Florida, and was compared to former Cubs ace Mark Prior by Pedro Martinez during the MLB Network coverage.

He was ranked No. 18 on the MLB.com prospect rankings, one spot behind fellow high school pitcher Anthony Solometo, a lefth-handed who went to Bishop Eustace.

Painter won Gatorade’s Florida high school player of the year award after going 6-1 with a 0.31 ERA while holding opponents to a .119 batting average during his senior season. He struck out just over two batters per inning pitched (91 SO in 45.1 IP) and retired 54 percent of the batters he faced via strikeout.

“Andrew is a tremendous physical talent and an exceptional young man,” Brian Barber, Phillies Director of Amateur Scouting stated in a press release. “We have seen Andrew in every game he has pitched during the last 12 months and could not be more excited to select him. His fastball sits 94 to 98 miles per hour with great feel, and he can throw four pitches for strikes.”

He is committed to the University of Florida, which is where Mainland's Chase Petty has committed. Petty was also named the Gatorade New Jersey high school player of the year.

He is described by MLB.com as having huge raw stuff along with a feel for pitching, striking out 54% of the batters he faced his senior season.

Painter is 6-foot-6 and throws four pitches with his fastball touching 96.  His 12-to-6 curve, slider and developing change-up are all part of what makes him one of the top high school pitchers in the draft.

High school catcher Henry Davis was the first overall pick of the draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

When the Phillies made their No. 13 pick neither Solometo or Petty had been selected.