It's been a rocky start to Andrew Painter's professional career with the Philadelphia Phillies, but it's far too early to hit the panic button. For the young Florida native, every inning—even the tough ones—is a valuable learning experience. Still, his 6.89 ERA is a number that won't fly at the highest level. Painter faced similar command issues in the lower minor leagues, where his inability to consistently find the strike zone proved costly. He's also struggled to put hitters away, striking out just 30 batters in 32.2 innings.

To make matters worse, Painter has walked 12 batters in that span, with eight coming in his last four starts. The long ball has also been a persistent problem, as he's already surrendered six home runs. But there's a silver lining: these growing pains are part of the journey for any young pitcher learning to harness his stuff.

Speaking to reporters before Painter's start against the Boston Red Sox, manager Don Mattingly offered a vote of confidence. "As much as anything tonight, it was really more command than anything else," Mattingly said, per NBC Philly. "The one pitch to Langeliers, he's trying to go up and away, and he misses in. The Rooker one, the ball is off the plate, but he's trying to go away and it leaks back. Same thing with Wilson."

Mattingly remained optimistic about Painter's trajectory. "I think he's been fine. Obviously, you want him to keep getting better and keep improving. I think as the season goes, he's just going to continue to gain confidence and command."

Painter is learning the hard way that facing big league hitters is a different beast. But history shows that even the game's greatest talents have stumbled out of the gate. There's no reason to believe Painter can't still become a key piece for the Phillies down the road. For now, every inning—good or bad—is a step forward. And for a young arm with his potential, that's exactly what the doctor ordered.