Painter and Mentor Scherzer Face Off in Long-Awaited Pitchers' Duel

The 22-year-old Phillies prospect and 41-year-old Blue Jays veteran finally meet on the mound after years of offseason training together.

Mar. 7, 2026 at 10:49pm

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Andrew Painter, a 22-year-old Phillies pitching prospect, and Max Scherzer, a 41-year-old Blue Jays veteran, faced off in a spring training game, fulfilling a long-standing promise the two made during their offseason training sessions together at Cressey Sports Performance in Florida. Painter, who missed the 2023 and 2024 seasons due to Tommy John surgery, is looking to make his MLB debut this year, while Scherzer is aiming to extend his Hall of Fame-worthy career.

Why it matters

The matchup between the young up-and-comer Painter and the seasoned veteran Scherzer represents a passing of the torch in professional baseball, as well as the importance of mentorship and preparation in developing young pitching talent. Painter's journey back from injury also highlights the challenges young players face in making it to the majors.

The details

Painter and Scherzer first met during the 2022-23 offseason when Scherzer was with the Mets. Scherzer took Painter under his wing, offering advice on the importance of proper offseason preparation and timing the ramp-up to the season. However, Painter's plans were derailed when he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023, sidelining him for two seasons. Now healthy, Painter is looking to make the Phillies' roster this year, while Scherzer, who just signed with the Blue Jays, is aiming to extend his storied career.

  • In 2022, Scherzer and Painter first met and discussed facing each other in the future.
  • Painter made his MLB debut in 2023 but dealt with left elbow soreness and ultimately underwent Tommy John surgery in July 2023.
  • Painter missed the entire 2023 and 2024 seasons while rehabbing from surgery.
  • Painter made a promising return in the Arizona Fall League in 2024.
  • Saturday's spring training game marked the first time Painter and Scherzer faced each other on a big league field.

The players

Andrew Painter

A 22-year-old pitching prospect for the Philadelphia Phillies who is looking to make his MLB debut this season after missing the 2023 and 2024 seasons due to Tommy John surgery.

Max Scherzer

A 41-year-old veteran pitcher who recently signed with the Toronto Blue Jays and is aiming to extend his Hall of Fame-worthy career.

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What they’re saying

“I remember talking about it in 2022, going into '23 [after he had] signed in New York. He was telling me, 'You better stay healthy so we can pitch against each other.'”

— Andrew Painter

“Here we are a couple years later, and it finally happens. Definitely glad we got to go up against each other.”

— Andrew Painter

“He's really good at what he does, obviously. I've learned a lot from him. He's big on the prep work and the timing of the offseason, kind of the ramp-up process. You don't want to get started too early, you don't want to get going too late -- you want a nice easy build-up without any spikes in it. He's been a big mentor for that.”

— Andrew Painter

What’s next

Painter is expected to break camp with the Phillies this season and make his long-awaited MLB debut, while Scherzer will continue his quest to extend his Hall of Fame career with the Blue Jays.

The takeaway

The matchup between the young Painter and veteran Scherzer highlights the importance of mentorship and preparation in developing pitching talent, as well as the challenges young players face in making it to the majors. Painter's journey back from injury serves as an inspiration for perseverance and the pursuit of one's dreams.