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Phillies pick pitcher Painter with first round draft choice

With the 13th overall selection in the 2021 MLB Amatuer Draft, the Phillies chose Andrew Painter, a right-handed high school hurler out of Florida.  

The six-foot-seven 215-pound youngster is a college commit with loads of projectability.  Credited with having an advanced gameplan while on the mound, Painter was ranked as the 18th best prospect in this year's draft.  

He's equipped with an arsenal that includes a fastball with plus potential, a slider, a curve ball and a chaneup.  Known as a strike thrower, Painter draws comparisons to last year's top Phillies pick Mick Abel.

Overheard on MLB Network's draft coverage...

Pedro Martinez:
"I really believe this kid plays exactly into the way this game is played nowadays."

"He's really poised on the mound.  (He) reminds me a lot of Mark Prior in his early days.  I'm really excited about this young man."

The last time the Phillies selected 13th overall was 1980, the year they won their first World Series.  The player taken at that time was another Florida high schooler, catcher Henry Powell.  He signed, but only played parts of three seasons in the minors, reaching the Class A level.  

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