11/1/26 : Annual Phillies Minor League Player Notes - Pitchers - Part Thirteen
Written by Steve Potter
This Phillies off-season I continue the series “Annual Phillies Minor League Player Notes” with profiles presented in groupings by defensive positions for the players who were still part of the minor league player development program at season’s end. The notes will reflect statistics, my thoughts on each player and input from them and others as I have it. They are presented in order by position and then alphabet in groupings of five players per article. Here is pitchers - part thirteen, highlighting the following :
Max Lazar
Justin Lee
Angel Liranzo
Gerardo Lopez
Christian McGowan
RH Max Lazar - 27 years old (28 on 6/3/27) - signed as a free agent 12/8/23 - was the Brewers 2017 11th round draft pick from Coral Springs HS in Florida
2026 Stats : began the season on the IL with an oblique strain. Sent on rehab assignment 4/30 - made two appearances with Jersey Shore (1.1 IP) and two appearances with Reading (3 IP) before being assigned to Lehigh Valley. With the IronPigs made 31 appearances - 4.06 ERA, 37.2 IP, 42 K’s, 18 BB. Also made 8 major league appearances - 10 IP, 6.38 ERA, 8 K’s, 3 BB.
2026 Notes : features a four seam fastball (93-97 mph), splitter, cutter and knuckle curve with an over the top delivery. Generally has good command - often used in two inning stints - fits the middle relief role as a big leaguer who can shuttle back and forth to minors.
2027 Outlook : has one option left - could be in a similar AAA/MLB shuttle role as this year.
RH Justin Lee - 21 years old (22 on 5/22/27) - 2026 20th round draft pick - UCLA
2026 Stats : did not pitch in a game after signing, instead worked at the complex in “draft camp” learning the regimen of pro baseball life and working on skills, strength and conditioning along with mental skills.
2026 Notes : he is from Los Angeles, CA and graduated from Notre Dame HS in Sherman Oaks. Was the 2023 LA Times player of the year. Played three seasons at UCLA - appeared in 77 games - all in relief - 90.2 IP - 94 K’s - features a 90-95 mph fastball, fading splitter change up, curve and slider.
2027 Outlook : likely opens the season with the Clearwater Threshers
LH Angel Liranzo - 20 years old (21 on 8/5/27) - signed as an international free agent 1/15/23 - Dominican Republic
2026 Stats : made 11 appearances (ten starts) with the FCL Phillies - 6.41 ERA, 39.1 IP, 45 K’s, 22 BB. Appeared in four games - one start with Clearwater - 9.64 ERA - 9.1 IP, 9 K’s, 7 BB. Overall posted a 7.03 ERA in 15 appearances (11 starts) in 48.2 IP with 54 K’s and 29 BB.
2026 Notes : was a regression year for the young lefty as he was coming off a very solid 2025 campaign where he posted a 3.87 ERA in 74.1 IP between the FCL and Threshers. This season was a repeat in the team assignments but not as good in the results as his BB/9 ballooned to 5.36 from 3.39 the year before and H/9 went up 3+. In 2025 he was considered an up and comer with a low nineties sinker (90-92 mph), four seamer, a really good change up, hard slider and curve - was generally a strike thrower. This summer the heater ranged from 91 to 95 mph and flashed as high as 96 however the results waned. There’s talent here so it’s not prudent to give up on him especially given his age. At 6’1” with an angular frame there’s room for growth - just needs to put in the work to get stronger but also to harness the command/control. Development isn’t always linear.
Pitching Director Travis Hergert’s comments : “He gained velo. Gave up more hard contact this season. Change up can be good. We’d like to see him use it more. Also think we could drop his slot some in order to get the SL some better glove side movement.”
2027 Outlook : spring camp is key to ascertain where he stands in his development.
RH Gerardo Lopez - 21 years old (22 on 7/30/27) - signed as an international free agent 5/7/24 - Mexico
2026 Stats : made 18 relief appearances with the FCL Phillies posting a 5.91 ERA in 32 IP with 34 K’s and 9 BB. Made one relief appearance with Clearwater (two scoreless innings, 1 H, 3 K’s) and two appearances in relief with Jersey Shore (five scoreless innings, 1 H, 3 K’s, 2 BB). Was a starter in 2025 in the DSL posting a 3.54 ERA in seven starts (28 IP).
2026 Notes : fastball range of 91 to 95 mph - touches 96, slider, sinker and changeup - fastball range jumped 3 to 4 mph as compared to 2025. As the season progressed so did he - had a really bad month of May (13 earned runs in 6.1 IP) but then a solid June - 3.31 ERA in 8 games - 16.1 IP, 15 K’s & 1 walk followed by an outstanding month of July - 1.93 ERA in 5 games - 9.1 IP with 12 K’s and 1 walk and then three scoreless outings at higher levels. Is an under the radar fella who might just pop next season.
Pitching Director Travis Hergert’s comments : “Gerry can be good. He learned what hard work was and it paid off. He has feel for spin. I argue that he was the most improved pitcher at the complex.”
2027 Outlook : will be interesting to see how he progresses after a strong 2026 finish - should be on a full season roster either at Clearwater or Jersey Shore.
RH Christian McGowan - 26 years old (27 on 3/7/27) - drafted 7th round - 2021 draft from Eastern Oklahoma State JC
2026 Stats : began the year with seven rehab assignments (six with Clearwater & one with Jersey Shore) before transferring to Reading on 5/3/26. Made 38 regular season appearances with Reading - 2.82 ERA, 44.2 IP, 45 K’s, 19 BB, 9.07 K/9 - overall regular season numbers - 45 appearances - 3.48 ERA, 54.1 IP, 54 K’s, 23 BB. Also made one post season appearance.
2026 Notes : missed all of the 2025 season after having labrum surgery. He is from Bokchito, Oklahoma and has spent the majority of the last three seasons in rehab mode recovering from Tommy John and then labrum surgery. When he’s healthy has displayed projectable big league stuff as he did this season at Reading. Competes with passion, plays hard, gets after it - fun to watch. Features a four seam and sinking fastball (sits in a range of 92 to 96 mph - flashes higher), slider and change-up. Has the talent to perform in the show. There were times this season where control/command wavered but when he was on he shined. His sinker is his money pitch and is one of intrigue, coupled with the four seamer and hard slider it provides three out pitches. He added a sweeper to the mix this year as well that was in the middle of a sweeper/slider break - not as big a break as a sweeper and with hard, short slider elements. No one will outwork this young man, he’s got a down to earth, no frills, straight at ya, get it done persona.
2027 Outlook : continued progress - perhaps returns to Reading for more work or bumps up to Lehigh Valley with an eye towards the big leagues.
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