Pitchers Andrew Painter, Mick Abel impress in Double-A debuts for Reading Fightin Phils

The expected future of the Philadelphia Phillies was on display this past weekend at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Andrew Painter and Mick Abel did not disappoint.

The right-handed pitchers, the Phillies’ top two prospects according to mlbpipeline.com, each earned wins in their Double-A debuts.

Painter, the team’s No. 1 prospect and 25th overall pick, allowed three hits and struck out eight in six shutout innings for the Reading Fighting Phils in an 8-0 win over the Portland Sea Dogs on Sunday. He also struck.

According to the report of milb.comPainter reached the upper 90s with his fastball and also threw his slider and curveball for strikes.

“I was really excited to just get my feet wet and experience Double-A and try my stuff here,” Painter told Jacob Resnick in a story published on milb.com and mlb.com. “I really wanted to take on the challenge and it went well today.”

Painter, 19, has come through the Phillies’ system dramatically this season.

He went 1-1 with a 1.40 ERA in nine single-game starts at Clearwater, giving up 17 hits, striking out 69 batters and walking 16 in 38.2 innings. He then went 3-0 with a 0.98 ERA in eight starts at Jersey Shore’s high singles, allowing 25 hits, striking out 49 and walking seven in 36.2 innings.

Overall, he is 5-1 with a 1.11 ERA in 18 starts. He allowed 45 hits, walked 23 and struck out 126 in 81.1 innings.

“It’s crazy to look back at how fast things moved,” Painter told Resnick.

Abel, ranked No. 57 in baseball, made his first Double-A start on Saturday in Reading’s 4-3 win over Portland. The 21-year-old allowed two runs, both on solo homers, on four hits and a walk in six innings. He struck out eight and batted.

His fastball has reportedly reached 98 miles per hour.

In 2020, Abel was a first-round pick of the Phillies, 15th overall. He went 7-8 with a 4.01 ERA in 18 starts for Jersey Shore this season. He allowed 75 hits, walked 38 and struck out 103 in 85.1 innings.

After being promoted to Double-A, Painter and Abel were reunited with right-hander Griff McGary, the Phillies’ potential No. 4 prospect.

In Friday’s game, McGarry, who joined from Jersey Shore in late July, made his sixth start for Reading. He allowed two runs, both earned, on two hits and five walks in five innings. He struck out four in a no-decision in Reading’s 6-3 loss to Portland.

Overall for the Fightins, McGary, 23, a fifth-round pick last year, is 0-2 with a 2.30 ERA in six starts. He allowed 10 hits, walked 16 and struck out 29 in 27.1 innings.

On the season, including 12 starts for the BlueClaws, he is 3-5 with a 3.28 ERA. He allowed 43 hits, walked 40 and struck out 111 in 74 innings.