Max Lazar

Max Brandon Lazar (born June 3, 1999) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 11th round of the 2017 MLB draft and made his MLB debut in 2024 with the Phillies.

Early life Lazar played two years of baseball at Coral Springs High School in Coral Springs, Florida, graduating in 2017. As a pitcher he was 15–4 with an 0.81 earned run average (ERA), 186 strikeouts, and 15 walks while allowing 78 hits, in innings pitched.

Professional career Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers selected Lazar in the 11th round, with the 324th pick, in the 2017 Major League Baseball draft. He made his professional debut that year for the Rookie-level Arizona League Brewers. Over innings he gave up 9 earned runs, 16 hits, and one walk, while striking out 14 batters.

Lazar spent the 2018 season with the Helena Brewers of the Pioneer League. Lazar was 3–3 with a 4.37 ERA. In 14 starts (third most in the league), he pitched 68 innings (fourth), giving up 74 hits and 15 walks, while striking out 55 batters (10th). Fangraphs wrote: Ironically, he sits just 86-89 but his deceptive, funky, over-the-top delivery combined with the extreme length of his stride down the mound (nearly seven-and-a-half feet of extension) makes him an uncomfortable at-bat for opposing hitters.... Lazar can somehow turn over a changeup from this arm slot. We’ve seen plenty of fastballs thrive despite mediocre velocity before. Often it’s from someone who has an extremely vertical arm slot ... or huge extension and a flat approach angle... Lazar has both of these attributes, and has a bat-missing changeup, too.... Even if they don’t develop further, Lazar has two legit weapons that should work fine in relief, and he throws strikes at such a high rate that he could be a multi-inning bullpen piece. Lazar was placed on the injured list on June 13. He spent the rest of the season on a rehab assignment with the ACL Brewers (one inning) and the Carolina Mudcats of the Single-A Carolina League (seven innings).

Lazar returned to Wisconsin for the start of the 2023 season, now exclusively a relief pitcher. He was promoted to the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers of the Southern League on June 30. Lazar elected free agency following the season on November 6. He started the season with the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils, where he allowed no earned runs or walks while striking out 18 batters in innings over 8 appearances. He was then promoted to the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs in the International League.

On August 9, 2024, Lazar was selected to the Phillies' 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He made his MLB debut the next day against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He retired all four batters he faced with a mix of curveballs, cutters, and a four-seam fastball that reached 95.5 mph, including a strikeout of Joc Pederson. In 11 appearances during his rookie campaign, Lazar recorded a 4.61 ERA with 9 strikeouts across innings pitched.

Lazar was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to begin the 2025 season. He was recalled to the major leagues on May 19. Lazar earned his first MLB save on May 24, pitching in an extra-innings win over the Athletics. On July 21, Lazar recorded his first career win after tossing a scoreless inning of relief in an extra-innings victory over the Boston Red Sox. Lazar made 36 appearances for Philadelphia during the 2025 campaign, compiling a 1–1 record and 4.79 ERA with 26 strikeouts and one save across innings pitched.

Lazar began the 2026 season on the injured list due to a left oblique strain. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on April 22, 2026. Lazar was activated on June 6, and was subsequently optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Personal life Lazar is Jewish and played for the Israeli national baseball team in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.