Phillies Set to Call Up Pitching Prospect Alex McFarlane Ahead of Dodgers Series

Right-handed pitching prospect Alex McFarlane has been called up from AA Reading by the Philadelphia Phillies before Monday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, per multiple reports.

Dominant Numbers in Double-A Reading

McFarlane was called up for one game on April 24 but did not appear; he currently has an excellent 2.06 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP, with 45 strikeouts in 35 innings pitched for Double-A Reading.

McFarlane Brings High Velocity to the Phillies Bullpen

The 25-year-old will be replacing No. 5 starter Alan Rangel, who has struggled in the starting rotation since being recalled from Triple-A Lehigh.

The team is in search of some bullpen help with news of Brad Keller's injury last week. Keller is likely to miss the rest of the 2026 season and could be out most of 2027 if he needs surgery.

Keller was signed in December to give the Phillies a high-leverage bullpen arm, but struggled in that role before landing on the injured list.

Rebuilding the Bridge to Jhon Duran

Now the Phillies are trying to piece things together in front of closer Jhon Duran, with guys like Orion Kerkering and Jonathan Bowlan from the right side and Jose Alvarado from the left side.

What McFarlane's Call-Up Means for the Rest of 2026

If given the opportunity, if McFarlane can come up and show some consistency, he could find a bigger role in the Phillies bullpen this season.

He was the Phillies' fourth-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft and is currently the No. 17 prospect in the Philadelphia Phillies organization according to MLB Pipeline.