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In an up-and-down 2026 season in the Phillies’ bullpen, rookie Alex McFarlane was the clear bright spot.
The right-hander from the U.S. Virgin Islands, the club’s 2022 fourth-round Draft pick out of the University of Miami, made his MLB debut on July 22 and finally stuck on the big league roster. He quickly became a highly effective reliever for Philadelphia and handled the job well, becoming one of manager Don Mattingly’s most reliable arms in front of closer Choan Duran.
Here’s what we learned from McFarlane’s debut season and what we can expect from him next year.
What happened in 2026?
Stat line: 19 IP, 2.84 ERA, 7 BB, 20 K
McFarlane made his debut with a scoreless top of the ninth in a loss to the Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park, but was optioned to the Minors just three days later. When he was recalled to the major leagues on August 11, he sat out the remainder of the regular season and was on the Phillies National League Wild Card Series roster. McFarlane was charged with an earned run against the Braves in Game 1 of this series, but had a key shutout to end the seventh inning in Philadelphia’s Game 2 win.
McFarlane’s 25.3% strikeout rate in the Majors was bolstered by a 31.7% walk rate and a 27.9% whiff rate, both above average. When hitters made contact, they often couldn’t make it: McFarlane allowed an impressive 87.4 mph exit velocity, though his barrel and hard-hit rates were below the league average. His 48.1% ground ball rate is certainly promising going forward.
In his small sample in the big leagues, McFarlane posted an expected ERA of 3.63, meaning his actual results were better — but not by much — than his majors. If he can put up similar or better numbers in 2027, the Phillies will definitely take it.
Basic stat
99.3 mph avg. fastball speed
Of the 633 pitchers (including Duran) who threw at least 200 combined four-seamers and sinkers in 2026, only 10 (including Duran) had a higher average velocity in those heaters than McFarlane. The right-hander hit triple digits on the radar gun on 68 of 216 combined fastballs (31.5%) and hit 102.2 mph in his second major league appearance.
Hitters went 4-for-25 (.160) with nine strikeouts in plate appearances that ended on McFarlane’s fastball and fared slightly better against his sinker, going 5-for-23 (.217) with a pair of K’s. The right-hander baffled same-side hitters with his sweeper (0-for-6, four strikeouts) and also threw his slider primarily to left-handed batters.
The biggest question of 2027
Can he cut down on walks?
Walks may not seem like a major issue for McFarlane, whose 8.9% walk rate in the Majors is near the league average. In fact, his major league debut had a lower walk-to-nine-innings ratio (3.3) than McFarlane had previously achieved in college or the Minors. In 2026, between Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley, McFarlane walked 20 hitters in 39 1/3 innings (12.5% walk rate).
McFarlane has improved his control over the years — he gave up 38 free passes in 50 1/3 innings for Single-A Clearwater in 2023, his first full season in the Minors — but walks can still be an issue. The Phillies will hope McFarlane’s low walk rate continues during his debut campaign.