"On his pitch days, Clayton Kershaw is ready to kill you" - Phillies AGM draws comparisons between Dodgers ace and rising top prospect pitcher

Being compared to Clayton Kershaw is certainly something that every young pitcher dreams of, and would typically take decades to earn. However, for one Phillies prospect, the comparisons are rolling in before he has even tossed an MLB pitch.

When the Philadelphia Phillies selected 6-foot-7 pitcher Andrew Painter with the thirteenth overall pick in 2021, the club's commitment to pitching was evident. His size, coupled with dexterity on the field, led the assistant GM of the Phillies to make some grand comparisons.

In a recent edition of The Phillies Show, Philadelphia assistant GM Preston Mattingly joined the panel to discuss the club's young talent. When the conversation shifted to Painter, Mattingly made no bones about his expectations for the Florida native, saying:

"I think he doesn't scare at all. He's going to keep coming after hitters. Whether he gives up a solo shot, the next one's going to be just after, and that's what's always been impressive about Andy"

Following his remarks, Mattingly pivoted to make a comparison between Painter and Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw, the Los Angeles Dodgers career leader in strikeouts, Both Kershaw and Preston Mattingly were drafted in 2006, and the latter continued to say:

"It was like you know (Kershaw) is ready to kill you. Andy is the same way but they just go about it with different mindsets"

At 21 years old, Andy Painter features an impressive arsenal of pitches. In addition to a fastball that can touch 96, Painter also incorporates a slider and 12-6 curveball. In three starts in the Arizona Fall League this year, Painter is 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA and seven strikeouts in seven innings of work.

Having worked with the Philadelphia Phillies since 2021, Mattingly was named the club's assistant general manager last November. The son of New York Yankees icon Don Mattingly, Preston comes from a baseball family that has seen a lot of talent come and go.

Andy Painter hopes to play in MLB at the same time as Clayton Kershaw

As Clayton Kershaw's spectacular career winds down, a new cadre of pitching talent will soon take the league by storm. As he revealed to MLB.com during 2024 spring training, Painter is intent on making his team's roster in 2025:

“We haven’t talked about a timetable or anything like that, we don’t want to clog the mind with different scenarios and play the hypothetical game. We’re just trying to make sure there’s the least amount of distractions possible."

Undoubtedly a pitcher with a bright future, Painter has done well to earn himself some glowing comparisons before even embarking on his MLB career.