The Philadelphia Phillies have named right-handed pitcher Alex McFarlane and infielder Bryan Rincon the winners of the 2026 Paul Owens Award, given each year to the organization’s top minor league pitcher and player.
Both players spent most of the season at Double-A Reading, and both put together seasons that stood out across the Eastern League. McFarlane’s breakout carried him all the way to Philadelphia, where he has become a key arm in the Phillies bullpen during the stretch run.
The two will be honored on the field this Thursday, September 24, before the Phillies game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Citizens Bank Park.
McFarlane Dominates Out of the Reading Bullpen
McFarlane, 25, was added to the Phillies 40-man roster on Nov. 18, 2025, and he made the most of the opportunity this season. Across 36 relief appearances with Reading (32) and Triple-A Lehigh Valley (4), the right-hander went 1-1 with 12 saves and a 1.83 ERA, allowing just eight earned runs in 39.1 innings. He struck out 55 batters and walked 20.
His strikeout numbers were especially eye-catching. McFarlane averaged 12.58 strikeouts per nine innings in the minors and struck out 34.4 percent of the batters he faced.
From the start of the season through his final game with the Fightin Phils on July 18, McFarlane ranked among the Eastern League’s best relievers (minimum 35 innings). He was tied for first in saves (12), second in ERA (2.06), third in strikeout rate (32.9 percent), fifth in strikeouts per nine innings (12.09) and eighth in WHIP (1.17).
He was named the Phillies Minor League Co-Pitcher of the Month for May and Pitcher of the Month for July.
“Alex McFarlane is one of the hardest-working pitchers in our organization,” Current Phillies assistant general manager, hitting and former player development director said. “When you combine an arm like his with that type of work ethic, it was only a matter of time before he broke out. Alex has done a tremendous job improving the quality of both his fastball and slider while also throwing more strikes.”
A Fast Start in the Big Leagues
McFarlane made his big league debut on July 22 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he has not looked out of place. In three stints with the Phillies this season, he is 4-1 with a 2.35 ERA over 16 relief appearances, allowing four earned runs in 15.1 innings. He has struck out 14, walked five and held hitters to a .211 batting average (12-for-57).
Among all major league rookies to face at least 60 batters since his debut, McFarlane is tied for first in fewest extra-base hits allowed (2), tied for fourth in wins, and 10th in both opponent slugging percentage (.281) and opponent OPS (.555).
He also made a bit of franchise history. From Aug. 18-28, the U.S. Virgin Islands native became the first Phillies pitcher since Mitch Williams in 1991 to win at least four games in an 11-day span.
The velocity is real, too. According to Statcast, McFarlane ranks in the 99th percentile in fastball velocity at 99.7 mph. His four-seam fastball has averaged 100.0 mph since his first game, the eighth-highest mark among all pitchers in that time (minimum 50 four-seamers).
McFarlane was a fourth-round pick of the Phillies in the 2022 MLB Draft and was signed by scout Victor Gomez.
Rincon Leads the Eastern League in Key Categories
Rincon, 22, delivered one of the top offensive seasons in the Eastern League while playing 118 games for Reading. The switch-hitter slashed .267/.410/.517 with a .927 OPS, adding 24 doubles, two triples, 26 home runs, 67 RBI, 95 walks, 30 stolen bases and 92 runs scored in 534 plate appearances.
A non-roster invitee to Phillies spring training this year, Rincon finished first in the Eastern League in walks, on-base percentage and OPS, and tied for first in home runs. He was second in runs and slugging percentage, tied for third in extra-base hits (52), fourth in total bases (219), tied for eighth in doubles, 10th in batting average, and tied for 10th in both stolen bases and hits (113).
Rincon, who was born in New York and is of Venezuelan descent, also showed remarkable consistency. He put together two 26-game on-base streaks, from May 19 to July 1 and from July 31 to Aug. 30. Each was tied for the fifth-longest streak in the league this season.
He was named the Phillies Minor League Hitter of the Month for August and Eastern League Player of the Week for Aug. 17-23.
A Glove-First Prospect Who Found His Bat
Rincon entered 2026 already known for his defense. Baseball America rated him as the best defensive infielder and as having the best infield arm in the Phillies minor league system. This season, the bat caught up.
MLB.com now ranks Rincon as the No. 4 prospect in the Phillies system and the No. 98 prospect in all of baseball. He was selected by the Phillies in the 14th round of the 2022 MLB Draft and was signed by scout Jeff Zona Jr.
“Bryan Rincon is a rare combination of shortstop defense, on-base ability and slug,” Murton said. “There are very few players 22 or younger at the double-A level who have produced offensively the way Bryan has while also having the ability to defend shortstop at a high level.”
About the Paul Owens Award
The Paul Owens Award was first presented in 1986. It is named for the late Paul Owens, who spent 48 years with the Phillies as a scout, farm director, general manager, manager and senior advisor.
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