Phillies finally promote exciting reliever prospect with 1.83 ERA back to MLB originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Philadelphia Phillies have a huge issue with their bullpen right now. After a brutal series against the Toronto Blue Jays, the Phillies’ bullpen was completely taxed.
Fortunately, during Monday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals, they got through with Andrew Painter, Alan Rangel, and Jonathan Bowlan. But this club desperately needs more relievers. And one long-awaited roster move was finally made Tuesday.
According to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, the Phillies have finally recalled 1.83 ERA reliever prospect Alex McFarlane to the big leagues after a successful outing earlier this season.
Phillies finally promoted Alex McFarlane back to MLB
“The Phillies recalled RHP Alex McFarlane from Triple-A,” Zolecki reports. “RHP Alan Rangel optioned.”
Sending Rangel down to make room for McFarlane makes a lot of sense. He pitched multiple innings Monday night, and wouldn’t be utilized out of the bullpen for a little while if he stayed up in the big leagues.
Instead, the Phillies can now turn to McFarlane out of the pen, as the flame-throwing right-hander has turned into one of the more high-upside relievers in the Phillies farm system.
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In 36 outings this season at Triple-A and Double-A, McFarlane has a 1.83 ERA. But what makes McFarlane so impressive is his production at Triple-A and the big leagues.
In four appearances, across 4.1 innings at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, McFarlane has a 0.00 ERA with eight strikeouts. In his one big league appearance, he pitched a scoreless inning with no strikeouts.
The 25-year-old right-handed pitching prospect is a very interesting reliever for the Phillies, and could be the 2026 version of Orion Kerkering during the 2023 season when he made his MLB debut late in the year to help the Phillies in their postseason push.
This Phillies’ bullpen needs some help, and McFarlane, with his elite fastball, could provide just that for the Phillies this season.
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