PHILADELPHIA — Alex McFarlane got his first taste of the big leagues nearly three months ago. In between the release of Taijuan Walker and Zack Wheeler‘s activation from the injured list, the hard-throwing right-hander spent one day on Philadelphia’s active roster. He went back down to Double-A without entering a game.
On Monday, McFarlane received another call directly from the Eastern League to the majors. Two days later, he finally fulfilled the dream. The 25-year-old made his debut on Wednesday night, throwing a scoreless top of the ninth inning in a 9-5 Phillies loss at Citizens Bank Park.
“Obviously, very exciting,” McFarlane said. “Making sure to take control of my breath, especially facing that hitter the first at-bat.”
That hitter, of course, was Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, the biggest name in baseball and one of the most dangerous hitters on the planet. McFarlane said that he did not realize he would be facing Ohtani before he entered the game. “All I knew was a lefty,” McFarlane said, “and it turned out to be that lefty, which is pretty cool.” That was quite the welcome for a rookie running out of the bullpen for the first time.
“Just taking deep breaths out there,” McFarlane said. “Try not to let the game speed up, slow everything down and just try to get the ball over the plate, just like a normal hitter. Obviously Ohtani’s Ohtani, but just trying to get the ball over the plate, trust my stuff.”
McFarlane fired a first-pitch fastball to Ohtani at 100.3 mph, and the left-handed-hitting slugger launched it hard to left-center field. Center fielder Derek Hill was able to settle under it. Andy Pages then grounded out in the next plate appearance, Freddie Freeman singled and Max Muncy chopped one to first to end the frame. McFarlane gave up some loud contact, but he managed to get through it with no real damage.
“I thought he was OK,” interim manager Don Mattingly. “He got three outs — right? — and didn’t give up a run. Probably a tough spot for him, too. He’s coming in at Ohtani and has to run through the lefties. Not something we want to do, but in that game, it felt like the right time to get him in and get him at least out on the mound one time.”
McFarlane said he had his mother and girlfriend at the ballpark and that the team was preparing a “nice package” of mementos to keep from the occasion. His journey to the major leagues began as a kid in the U.S. Virgin Islands before going to high school in Georgia. McFarlane played college baseball at Miami before he was drafted by the Phillies in the fourth round in 2022.
After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023, McFarlane returned to the mound last year. He was moved to the bullpen from the rotation during the season and reached Double-A. In 2026, he’s posted a 2.06 ERA in 32 outings for Reading and earned two promotions to the Phillies.
Technically, McFarlane has been able to call himself a big leaguer for a little while. But now he officially has some game tape as proof.
“Pitching in front of these fans, it’s a huge experience for me,” McFarlane said. “I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to pitch in front of a fanbase like this, especially Philly.”
