Andrew Painter, RHP, Phillies: At the end of the 2022 season, Painter seemed like he was on the fast track to the big leagues. Then came elbow trouble in the spring of 2023, Tommy John surgery that cost him all of the next two seasons and a year in Triple-A in 2025. Now, three seasons after he took the minor leagues by storm, he was ready for his debut.

The Florida high school product took the hill against the Nationals and was electric for 5.1 frames. By the time he yielded the hill to reliever Tanner Banks, the righthander had punched out eight hitters and allowed just one run. He drew the same number of empty swings (eight) and earned his first big league win. His final strikeout of the night came on a four-seamer against James Wood, while the other seven came on sliders (2), curveballs (2) and changeups (3).

Sal Stewart, 1B, Reds: Early last season, one of the last boxes to check on Stewart's card was whether he'd produce the kind of pop necessary to profile at first base. That wasn't a question for very long. He hit cleanup in the playoffs and has continued to do so in the regular season. On Tuesday, he connected on the second of back-to-back home runs with superstar teammate Elly De La Cruz. Stewart's blast came off a four-seamer from Hunter Barco and traveled an estimated 376 feet before landing just over the wall in right-center field in Cincinnati.

Chase DeLauter, OF, Guardians: When healthy, DeLauter has shown he can provide big-time fire in the middle of a lineup. He added more evidence in the early days of this season, but now appears to have suffered another injury. Facing Shohei Ohtani, DeLauter fouled a fastball off his left foot and immediately winced in pain before exiting the game. The severity of the injury is not clear at this time, though DeLauter said after the game that X-rays were negative. The team is calling it a left foot contusion, and DeLauter has had surgery on that foot in the past.

Sam Antonacci, 2B/SS, White Sox: Antonacci has looked bigger and stronger this spring, and the results have followed. That was true in the World Baseball Classic and during Cactus League play. Now, it's showing up during the regular season. Facing Nashville in the first game of the season's first full series, Antonacci led off and went 1-for-3 with two runs, two walks and two stolen bases. He's now 5-for-15 with a pair of home runs to start the season.

Jimmy Crooks, C, Cardinals: The Cardinals are fortunate enough to have a pair of catching prospects waiting in the wings, ready if a need arises in St. Louis. One of those prospects is Crooks, who showed off his power stroke in the first full week of the Triple-A season. Facing Norfolk, the Oklahoma product went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. He also caught a pair of runners stealing with pop times Statcast measured at 1.80 and 1.82 seconds.

Editor’s Picks

Colt Emerson, Cooper Pratt Extension Analysis: J.J. Cooper examines the differing decision-making processes behind new contract extensions for Colt Emerson and Cooper Pratt. Read more…

Baseball America Helium Pick Of The Day

Each day, we’ll pick a prospect that has our attention.

Andrew Fischer, 3B, Brewers: The Brewers have plucked infielders from Tennessee in each of the past two drafts, starting with Blake Burke in 2024 and again with Fischer in 2025. One look at Fischer makes clear he comes to the plate with intent to do damage. His steep swing features vicious, electric bat speed that helps him vaporize baseballs. He posted exit velocities of 111 mph or more twice in the same at-bat during his team’s Spring Breakout game against the Athletics, the second of which resulted in a ringing double into the right-field corner. His approach does appear to be very pull-centric at the moment, but it’s clear he has the tools to bang in the big leagues. He’s a fringier defender at third base and might slide across the infield at some point, but his bat should be enough to profile at either spot. 

Quick Hits

Prospect news and notes from around baseball…

• The Dodgers are reaping the rewards of last year’s Dustin May trade with the Red Sox. Zach Ehrhard, one of two outfielders they acquired from Boston, went 4-for-6 yesterday for Triple-A Oklahoma City. In the same game, James Tibbs III, who also came over in the trade, went 2-for-5 with another homer and a double.

• A’s outfielder Henry Bolte has picked up where he left off from spring training. He went 3-for-4 and scored two runs for Triple-A Las Vegas.

• Bubba Chandler struck out six but also walked six over 4.1 hitless innings yesterday in his Pirates season debut.

• Astros RHP Miguel Ullola was quite sharp for Triple-A Sugar Land, going 5.1 innings with seven strikeouts and just one run allowed.

• Phillies top prospect Aidan Miller is still not taking swings as he recovers from a back injury, according to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki.

In Case You Missed It