CLEARWATER, Fla. — With a collection of standout Phillies minor leaguers preparing to play in Major League Baseball’s annual Spring Breakout game on Friday afternoon at BayCare Ballpark, a more significant development took place for the organization’s top prospect earlier in the morning on one of the back fields at the adjacent Carpenter Complex. Andrew Painter, the 21-year-old starting pitcher who missed the past two seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery, faced hitters for the first time this spring training in a live batting practice.

A few dozen fans, Phillies brass and even Cole Hamels — the last starter to be drafted out of high school by the Phillies and find real success with the team — looked on as Painter took the next step toward his return to regular-season action and eventual big-league debut, which is expected to come this summer. The former first rounder was pleased with how he felt throwing the ball.

“First one,” Painter said. “Biggest thing is health. Walked out of there feeling good. I feel like the stuff was coming out pretty good. Talked to some of the hitters and they said the same. So, health is the biggest thing.”

While Painter’s session was highly anticipated, it was not particularly eventful. The right-hander threw around 20 pitches, facing Bryson Stott twice, Brandon Marsh twice and Alec Bohm once. He didn’t induce any swings and misses, but got Marsh to foul one pitch off. Stott hit one ball solidly to the opposite field, and Marsh ripped another into right-center field.

Painter said he paced himself. He threw his first live batting practice of the spring in 2023 as a teenager with a chance to crack the Phillies’ rotation, and he threw with higher intensity. He hurt his elbow not too long after. He’s taking a slower route this time to try to avoid another injury.

“I’m still easing in,” Painter said. “Two years ago, the first one felt really good. And that led to some problems, so I got to take it nice and easy.”

Painter threw his fastball, his slider, his curveball and the changeup that he’s been refining. He’s had conversations with Hamels, in camp as a guest instructor and a broadcaster, about the pitch throughout the spring. Painter liked how his changeup came off his hand on Friday. His entire repertoire is progressing.

“I felt like I could land most things for a strike,” Painter said, “so it’s coming back.”

For Painter, this type of action is about the closest he’ll get to real competition this spring. After pitching in the Arizona Fall League this past autumn, the Phillies won’t use him in any Grapefruit League games. The club will want him to ramp up and have enough innings left in the tank to use him in the major leagues down the stretch. He could be up in Philadelphia around July.

While he didn’t participate in the Spring Breakout game against a group of Pirates minor leaguers, Painter was a part of the festivities. He signed autographs on the stadium concourse for a long line of fans and joined the team in the dugout. The righty may not be ready to take the mound for an actual game, but he’s still an impact prospect who may very well break out later this season.

He’ll continue to work on the back fields and face batters. He’s on his way to finally getting the chance to show what kind of difference he can make.

“I’ll be here,” Painter said. “I’ll throw a couple more, just kind of build off every one.”