PHILLIES’ PAINTER HAS BUM ELBOW
Top Philadelphia Phillies prospect Andrew Painter won’t throw for four weeks because of a sprained ligament in his right elbow.
The 19-year-old righthander’s fastball touched 99 mph in his spring training debut on March 1 against Minnesota, and he came into camp the next day and said he felt “tenderness” in his elbow.
He underwent an MRI on March 3 and the Phillies said Friday that a second opinion confirmed a right proximal ulnar collateral ligament sprain.
Medical staff and Painter’s doctor recommended Painter rest for four weeks from the date of injury and then begin a light tossing progression.
Philadelphia has been cautious with Painter throughout the minor leagues. Painter sprinted through Philadelphia’s system in 2022, going 6-2 with a 1.48 ERA in 26 appearances spread across two Class A squads and Double-A Reading.
Painter emerged the top candidate to win the Phillies’ fifth-starter job as he attempted to crack the starting rotation before his 20th birthday on April 10. That role could fall to Bailey Falter.
The 6-foot-7 Painter was the 13th overall pick in the 2021 draft and signed for a $3.9 million bonus.
DeGrom could start Monday
Jacob deGrom could make his first spring training start for the Texas Rangers on Monday.
The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner threw to hitters for the first time on Wednesday, when he was in the upper 90s with his fastball and hit 100 mph on the last of his 35 pitches.
Manager Bruce Bochy said deGrom will throw again today and, if all goes well, could pitch against Arizona two days later.
More Yankees ailments
Injuries continue to pile up for the Yankees as they get ready to begin their AL East title defense.
Manager Aaron Boone
said that outfielder Harrison Bader has an oblique issue. The injury puts Bader’s availability for opening day in doubt.
The Yankees already had said pitchers Carlos Rodon, Frankie Montas, Tommy Kahle and Lou Trivino
wouldn’t be ready for the March 30 opener against San Francisco.
Notable
Justin Verlander, the three-time Cy Young Award winner who left Houston to sign an $86.7 million, twoyear contract with the Mets, struck out five and allowed one run and three hits over 31⁄3 innings against his former team.
Mets outfielder Starling Marte played his first exhbition game and went 2-for-2 with a homer and a double in a 7-2 victory.
Tampa Bay’s Yandy Díaz left the Rays’ exhibition game after a pitch from Atlanta’s Ian Anderson hit him on the left hand.
Rays manager Kevin Cash said during the television broadcast of the game that X-rays appeared to be negative. This game had marked the infielder’s return from a hip flexor injury.
Infielders Yuli Gurriel and Jose Iglesias agreed to minor league contracts with the Marlins.
The 38-year-old Gurriel won his second World Series with the Astros last year after hitting .242 with 40 doubles, eight home runs and 53 RBIs last year.
Iglesias, 33, batted .292 last season with Colorado as he made 116 starts at shortstop.