Former BlueClaws Alex McFarlane and Bryan Rincon were named winners of the Paul Owens Award presented annually to the Phillies’ top minor league pitcher and player.
McFarlane pitched for the BlueClaws in 2025 while Rincon was with the BlueClaws for part of 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Last year, McFarlane had a 1.89 ERA over his final 12 games with Jersey Shore. This year, he had a 2.06 ERA in 32 games with Reading, threw 4.1 scoreless innings with Lehigh Valley, and made his big league debut on July 22nd.
With the Phillies, he has a 2.35 ERA in 16 appearances and is a key member of the bullpen heading towards the postseason.
“Alex McFarlane is one of the hardest-working pitchers in our organization,” said Luke Murton, Phillies assistant general manager, hitting. “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. His commitment to continuing to develop has quickly translated into success, which a lot of Philadelphia has already had the opportunity to appreciate.”
He was a 4th round pick of the Phillies in 2022 out of the University of Miami.
Rincon, a 14th round pick in 2022, made his BlueClaws debut in the final month of the 2023 season and played for the BlueClaws in the postseason that year. He played 33 games in 2024 and 84 in 2025, hitting six home runs and leading the team with 40 stolen bases.
This year with Reading, he hit .267 with a career high 26 home runs including 10 leadoff home runs.
Added Murton: “Bryan Rincon is a rare combination of shortstop defense, on-base ability and slug. He has always been a steady defender, and this year we really saw him break out on the offensive side of the ball. 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. We’re extremely proud of the year he’s had, and we look forward to Phillies fans getting a taste of what we’ve been fortunate enough to see from Bryan as his career continues to unfold.”
They will be presented their awards at Citizens Bank Park this week.
-Jersey Shore BlueClaws-