Philadelphia Philles pitcher Andrew Painter, the team’s No. 1 prospect, pitches in a rehab start Thursday, May 8, 2025, for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs against the Worcester Red Sox at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Painter threw three scoreless innings in his Triple-A debut, putting him one step away from MLB. The Phillies expect him to be there soon.

The final step began on the top step. At 6:43 p.m. Thursday, with dozens of Little Leaguers clustered on the field in front of him, the most touted Phillies pitching prospect in 20 years paused at the edge of the third-base dugout.