The first installment of our 2024 Arizona Fall League notes starts off with a bang, as Just Baseball’s No. 2 pitching prospect Andrew Painter made his return to the mound in game action for the first time in nearly 600 days.

NEW YORK — Top Phillies pitching prospect Andrew Painter hasn’t pitched in a competitive game since March 1, 2023, but will soon. Multiple sources confirmed on Monday that Andrew Painter will pitch in the Arizona Fall League this year. He leaves for Arizona on Monday night.

Painter is taking a big step forward by pitching in the Arizona Fall League. He's expected to reach 20 innings in fall ball. Then what?

According to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, one of the Phillies' top prospects, Andrew Painter will be heading to Arizona and will face live hitters for the first time in 2024. Painter, who missed the entire season after Tommy John surgery in July of 2023, is expected to be ready for spring training.

Painter said the results "weren’t exactly what I wanted,” but the most important thing was how he felt. "The arm’s healthy and that was the biggest takeaway."

Andrew Painter is healthy and will pitch for the Phillies at some point in 2025, but the club isn't sure exactly when.

The Philadelphia Phillies could have a real-deal ace on their hands in Andrew Painter, which could throw off their most ambitious offseason plans.