Baseball America lists pitching prospect Alex McFarlane as the Phillies’ breakout player to watch in 2025

Alex McFarlane Breakout Incoming – The Phillies are coming off a 95-win, division-winning season, but heading into 2025, things feel a little…unsettled. Don’t get me wrong, the MLB roster is still stacked, but the farm system? Not much happening there in terms of “help” for the 2025 season.

Phillies Farm System—When will the top prospects arrive to The Show?

According to Bleacher Report’s latest rankings, the Phillies’ farm system sits at 23rd in the league—far from ideal for a team trying to sustain long-term success.

But even in a thin farm system, there are always potential breakout candidates. And according to Baseball America, one name to watch in 2025 is right-hander Alex McFarlane.

Alex McFarlane’s Road Back from Tommy John

McFarlane, 23, was once considered a rising star in the Phillies’ system.

Before Tommy John surgery wiped out his entire 2024 season, he had climbed as high as No. 15 on MLB Pipeline’s Phillies prospect rankings. Now, as he works his way back, his future role is becoming a little clearer.

The Phillies originally drafted McFarlane as a starter, but there’s growing buzz that he’s destined for a high-leverage bullpen role. Baseball America’s latest breakdown sees him as a potential late-inning weapon, citing his electric three-pitch mix featuring:

• Two-seam fastball
• Slider
• Split-changeup

That’s the kind of arsenal that could make hitters miserable—if he can control it.

Command Is the Big Question Mark

Alex McFarlane has always had the stuff to miss bats—his 12.5 K/9 rate over 58 1/3 professional innings proves that. But the problem? He also walks too many hitters.

41 walks in 58 1/3 innings (6.3 BB/9) is a flashing red warning sign. If he’s going to succeed as a high-leverage reliever, that number has to come down—dramatically.

For now, the Phillies will likely ease him back in and monitor how his command progresses. If he can refine his control, he has the raw stuff to dominate out of the bullpen.

Alex McFarlane isn’t a finished product, but he’s an intriguing one. If the Phillies can harness his strikeout stuff and improve his control, he could emerge as a real weapon in the bullpen.

The Phillies are looking for the next big arm to step up in their system. Could it be McFarlane? If he figures out his command, don’t be surprised if he finds his way to The Show sooner than later.

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