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Rookie McFarlane Becomes Phillies' Go-To Arm
22 Sep
Summary
- Alex McFarlane is now the Phillies' second-most trusted reliever.
- He recently shut down Juan Soto in a high-leverage situation.
- The team was initially hesitant to promote McFarlane.
The Philadelphia Phillies continue to grapple with their bullpen issues, a recurring problem despite a strong starting rotation. With several key relievers struggling or ineffective, interim manager Don Mattingly has increasingly turned to rookie right-hander Alex McFarlane.
McFarlane, who fans had clamored to see in the majors earlier in the season, has stepped up admirably. He has become the second-most trusted arm in the bullpen, only behind closer Jhoan Duran. His growing importance was highlighted in a recent game against the New York Mets.
In a critical moment, McFarlane entered with runners on base and faced off against star hitter Juan Soto. He successfully navigated the threat, striking out Soto to end the inning. This performance reinforced his standing and demonstrated why the team now views him as an indispensable part of their relief corps.
