It could be nothing more than a four-week blip for Andrew Painter, but the delay means the prized prospect won't be pitching in Citizens Bank Park anytime soon.
Painter, 19, has a sprained right proximal ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He won't throw a baseball until the end of the month.
It's a concerning development for the No. 6 overall prospect in baseball.
Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski envisioned Painter battling in camp for the No. 5 spot in the starting rotation and heading north with the club.
That's not happening.
Another sudden concern for the Phils is the status of Ranger Suarez.
The 27-year-old felt tenderness in his left forearm while pitching for Venezuela in a World Baseball Classic exhibition last week against Houston.
Suarez and manager Rob Thomson have said it's not a serious concern, and the club is taking a wait-and-see approach.
With Opening Day just around the corner, the Phils' expected rotation is in disarray.
It's likely that lefty Bailey Falter will take the spot meant for Painter. The 25-year-old made 16 starts last season and posted a 3.86 ERA.
As for the other slot, Christopher Sanchez is the likely option if Suarez opens the season on the injured list. The southpaw posted a 5.63 ERA last season over 40 innings.
It wouldn't be surprising, especially if Suarez's injury turns out to be a bit more serious, to see Dombrowski go out and pluck a veteran starter from somewhere to add to the backend of the rotation.
Roster Notes
Mick Abel and Griff McGarry highlight a group of six players the Phillies have reassigned to minor-league camp.
MLB Pipeline has Abel and McGarry as the Phillies' No. 2 and 3 prospects behind Andrew Painter.
Pitchers Andrew Baker, Francisco Morales, Jon Duplantier, and Billy Sullivan were also reassigned.
Baker and Morales both have electric stuff and figure to eventually be power arms out of the 'pen
Duplantier, 28, has some big-league experience but hasn't pitched this spring because of a hamstring issue.
Sullivan, a New Castle native, collected 77 strikeouts over 51 innings last year at Double-A Reading.
The Phillies also optioned outfielders Jhailyn Ortiz and Simon Muzziotti to Triple A while sending Johan Rojas to Double A.
