Good things happen to those who wait -- and that is proving true for rookie Alex McFarlane and, in turn, the Philadelphia Phillies.
After an impressive sixth inning in the desert on Monday against the Arizona Diamondbacks in a crucial series opener with National League Wild Card implications, McFarlane has climbed the ladder of trust in the bullpen.
The 25-year-old rookie took the mound at Chase Field with runners at first and second base and nobody out. Lars Nootbarr flew out to left field on a 99 mph sinker. Then, Nolan Arenado was sitting fastball and watched a big looping sweeper, a new pitch McFarlane developed this season, for the called strike three. Tim Tawa hit a check-swing roller to third base, where Bryson Stott made a nice charging play to end the threat and inning as the Phillies went on to win the game 2-1.
“That’s pretty special right there. That’s pretty awesome,” Aaron Nola said to the media postgame after watching the rookie bail him out of the jam from the first base dugout.
“Left him in a tough spot to come in, two guys on, nobody out, and he navigated through it really nice. The strikeout to Arenado was pretty awesome.”
The No. 13-ranked prospect in the organization has been awesome in his first true chance to pitch in the big leagues, proving a return trip to Lehigh Valley is not necessary.
“Taking advantage of every opportunity I have and allowing myself to go out there and take it one game at a time,” McFarlane told Tom McCarthy in his post-game interview on NBCSP.
With that attitude and performance, he could be in line for even more high-leverage chances.
“If they are showing it to you, you should pay attention,” interim manager Don Mattingly said postgame. “He’s kind of handled everything. We’ve put him in some tough spots lately. That was probably the toughest spot tonight that we’ve put him in. But his stuff plays.”
The rookie is certainly capitalizing on those opportunities.
Through his first 10 appearances, McFarlane has posted a minuscule 0.87 ERA with 10 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .147 average to go along with a 0.97 WHIP.
He also joins some rare Phillies company:
It has been a journey for the former Miami Hurricane, taken in the fourth round in 2022. While the Phillies caught fire and made their way to the National League Championship Series at the end of 2023, McFarlane underwent Tommy John surgery, knocking him out for the entire 2024 season.
Just last season, the club was not sure how best to utilize the righty, ping-ponging him between starting and relieving.
Entering this season, the plan was to keep him strictly as a reliever, but he had to get acclimated to the new role each day. A process that did not have a specific time frame to complete, let alone a time frame to earn a spot in the bigs.
Yet, the right-hander worked diligently, figuring out life in a new, late-inning role in the minors. It is something he did at times during his playing days at Miami, but never as a pro.
Come May, fans were clamoring for him to be called up after he was mowing down hitters in Double-A Reading. On paper, the numbers indicated he was ready, despite being considered on the older side for that level.
In 32 appearances spanning 35 innings, he posted a 2.06 ERA with 47 punchouts while holding opposing hitters to a .187 contact clip. He notched 12 saves.
However, the organization methodically ensured McFarlane checked off boxes in his new late-inning role.
Coming out of the bullpen in high-leverage spots, including save situations, and similarly entering a game like he did Monday night with runners on base were all obstacles McFarlane had to hurdle.
The pitching development staff, led by director of pitching development Travis Hergert, also keyed in on his four-seam fastball grip to help improve the command and effectiveness of the pitch, particularly against left-handed hitters.
That helped him tremendously.
They also challenged him to attack the zone and throw more first-pitch strikes to help lower his walk rate, which had been a problem throughout his professional career.
In his first full season in 2023, he owned a 16.3% walk rate, a career-worst. Since then, it has steadily lowered, sitting at 12.5% this year both in the minors and with the Phillies. It's still below league average, but heading in the right direction.
The walks may be a part of his game, forcing him to walk a tightrope at times, which looked to be the imminent path after falling behind the first two batters he faced Monday. He worked around the early blunders thanks to his electric arsenal that plays at the highest level.
Armed with a fastball that can touch triple digits to go along with a 99 mph sinker and the newly added sweeper, McFarlane is part of the plan moving forward.
He has helped turn the bullpen around in August, posting the fifth-lowest ERA in MLB over the last 30 days.
He has also been one of the top relievers in the league since his big league debut.
The Phillies opting not to trade him at the deadline for a rental outfield bat may be viewed as one of the best decisions made when looking back at ways the team could have improved for a playoff push.
His even-keeled mindset and dedication to honing his new role in the minors were on full display all summer long, catapulting him to the bigs, where he is learning from his bullpen mates.
"Just breathing and slowing down," McFarlane said to media in the clubhouse postgame. "Just trusting your stuff and getting your stuff in the zone. And not letting the moment speed up on you too much. Just dust your cleats out if you need to. Take your time and just slow down."
A pleasant late-season surprise, McFarlane brings optimism as the calendar somehow flips to September.
It will be a sprint to the finish line. The Phillies are in the thick of the wild card race while trying to pull off an unlikely takeover of the division.
McFarlane looks to continue to pitch at his own pace, the same mindset that got him into a position to become an integral arm come October.
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