Phils pitching prospect Andrew Painter has sprained elbow Czech Republic beats China 8-5 at WBC, Cuba gets its 1st win

CLEARWATER, Florida – Upper Philadelphia Phillies Avenue Andrew Painter won’t quit for four weeks due to a right elbow sprain.

The 19-year-old right-hander’s fastball touched 99 mph in his March 1 spring training debut against Minnesota, and he came to camp the next day and said he felt “tenderness” in his elbow.

He had an MRI on March 3, and on Friday, the Phillies said a second opinion confirmed a right proximal ulnar collateral ligament sprain.

Painter’s medical staff and doctor recommended that Painter rest for four weeks from the injury and then begin light toss-ups.

“It’s pretty soft,” Painter told reporters at spring training. “It’s just something we’re going to be careful about.”

Philadelphia has been wary of Painter in the minor leagues. Painter came through the Philadelphia system in 2022, going 6-2 with a 1.48 ERA in 26 games split across two Class A teams and a Double-A reading.

Painter emerged as a prime candidate for fifth in the Phillies’ starting lineup as he attempted to break into the starting rotation before his 20th birthday on April 10. This role may be Bailey Falter.

Painter said he feels “pretty confident” that he will return to the field this season and be able to avoid surgery.

“The plan is to start quitting, hopefully in three or four weeks,” he said. “Look where it goes and how it feels, and go from there.”

The 6-foot-7 painter was selected 13th overall in the 2021 amateur draft and signed for a $3.9 million bonus. He almost reached 100 mph on the radar while facing Carlos Correa in the first inning last week.

TOKYO. Martin Muzyk hit a three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning, and the Czech Republic beat China 8-5 on Friday at the World Baseball Classic.

The Czech Republic overcame a 5-4 deficit in the ninth and Filip Smola added an RBI single in the team’s first game in Group A.

Matej Mensik also scored for the Czechs, connecting in the third. Marek Minarik was the winner, closing out with 2 2/3 clean innings.

Hai Cheng Gong was defeated when China fell to 0:2. On Thursday, he lost to Japan 8:1.

An amateur Czech team had fun in Japan. Some players even surfed ahead of the tournament during games in Miyazaki in southwestern Japan.

“We enjoy our stay in Japan,” said Czech player Marek Chlup. “In Miyazaki, some players were swimming.”

CUBA 13, PANAMA 4

TAICHUNG, Taiwan (AP) — Cuba landed 21 hits and claimed their first World Baseball Classic win after losing their first two games in Group A.

Panama took a 4-2 lead after two innings, breaking out with four runs in the second inning. Ruben Tejada. But Cuba scored four points in the sixth, five in the seventh and two more in the eighth for a lopsided win.

Yoan Moncada was 3 of 5 with four RBIs and Yadir Drake went 4 of 4 with two RBIs to lead the Cubans.

Luis Miguel Tejada was the winning pitcher and Matthew Hardy took the loss to Panama.

Both teams play 1-2 in Group A.