July 20, 2026
Morgan Tencza/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Phillies prospect Alex McFarlane has triple-digit stuff.
UPDATE [2:20 p.m.] – The Phillies made Alex McFarlane's call-up from Double-A Reading official.
Going down in his place will be right-hander Alan Rangel, who is going back to Triple-A Lehigh Valley after getting tagged for five runs through four innings in Sunday's 6-1 loss to the Mets.
Prior to tonight's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Phillies recalled RHP Alex McFarlane from Reading (AA). To make room on the 26-man roster, RHP Alan Rangel was optioned to Lehigh Valley (AAA). McFarlane will wear No. 71.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) July 20, 2026
EARLIER...
Alex McFarlane is getting his big league call-up.
The Phillies will be adding the 25-year-old right-hander to their bullpen ahead of Monday's series opener against the visiting Dodgers, after several weeks of minor-leaguer catching eyes with his triple-digit stuff and a coinciding stretch that has seen the major-league bullpen deplete.
MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo and The Athletic's Matt Gelb confirmed McFarlane's call-up Monday morning, after fellow Phillies prospect and McFarlane's Double-A teammate Gage Wood posted about it on his Instagram story Sunday night.
With Double-A Reading, McFarlane is 1-1 with a 2.06 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP through 32 appearances and 35.0 total innings pitched. He's also carrying a 12.09 strikeouts per nine innings rate and notched 12 saves, thanks to an arsenal that includes an overpowering fastball and sinker that can each top 100 miles per hour, and then an offspeed slider and sweeper that can tie hitters up in knots.
Alex McFarlane pitches a scoreless 9th to finish the game for Reading.
— FuturePhils (@FuturePhils) July 19, 2026
He struck out 2 batters and touched 101 mph tonight.
He has a 2.06 ERA and has struck out 47 in 35 IP this season pic.twitter.com/AM3x0CPvjC
Straight gas from Alex McFarlane in a two-inning save last night ⛽️
— Reading Fightin Phils (@ReadingFightins) July 5, 2026
The @Phillies No. 17 prospect dialed up eight pitches over 100 MPH including touching 102 on the radar gun! 🤯@PhilsPlayerDev | #GoFightins pic.twitter.com/sTOR8yPyeG
Interim manager Don Mattingly mostly danced around the idea of a McFarlane call-up when asked about it by the media in the past week or so, but now the Phillies have gotten to a spot where they're willing to jump him past Triple-A entirely to see what he can do.
But there is a kicker.
The Phillies exhausted their already thin bullpen in Sunday's 6-1 loss to the Mets, so right now, it's just a matter of needing a fresh arm from somewhere, which could render McFarlane's stay in the bigs as a quick one-and-done, per Gelb.
That said, the Phillies' bullpen needs all the help it can get right now with the trade deadline still two weeks away. If McFarlane holds his own with his triple-digit velocity pitches, then he could just force the Phillies' hand to keep him up with the club longer than originally planned.
The trade deadline is Monday, Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. ET, and the Phillies are now in a spot where they're expected to go after a left- and right-handed reliever.
McFarlane could potentially alter the right-handed need, but right now, the Phillies will just want to get through Monday night first.
SIGN UP HERE to receive the PhillyVoice Sports newsletter
Follow Nick on Twitter: @itssnick
Follow Nick on Bluesky: @itssnick
Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice Sports
