The final step began on the top step. At 6:43 p.m. Thursday, with dozens of Little Leaguers clustered on the field in front of him, the most touted Phillies pitching prospect in 20 years paused at the edge of the third-base dugout.

Andrew Painter made his Triple-A debut with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, and the Phillies' top prospect was tested multiple times in his first outing.

Painter, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow, rung up five of the first eight batters he faced, including WooSox left-fielder Roman Anthony, the top prospect in all of baseball, who went down on four pitches, flailing at a 12-to-6 curveball for strike three to lead off the game.