Kyle Farmer

Kyle Farmer
Farmer with the Cincinnati Reds in 2021
Colorado Rockies – No. 52
Infielder
Born: (1990-08-17) August 17, 1990 (age 34)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
July 30, 2017, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Batting average.252
Home runs55
Runs batted in254
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

James Kyle Farmer (born August 17, 1990) is an American professional baseball infielder for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, and Minnesota Twins. He made his MLB debut in 2017 with the Dodgers.

Amateur career

Farmer graduated from the Marist School in Atlanta, Georgia, where he played baseball and football. While at Marist, Farmer appeared in the film The Blind Side (2009), playing a high school quarterback.[1]

During his college baseball career at the University of Georgia (UGA), Farmer played shortstop, hitting for a .308 batting average and recording a .968 fielding percentage, a UGA Baseball team record at the shortstop position.[2] In 2011, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[3] Farmer was originally drafted by the New York Yankees in the 35th round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign. He was then drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 8th round (244th overall pick) of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft and signed a contract with the team.[4][5]

Professional career

Los Angeles Dodgers

Minor leagues

Farmer with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2014

The Dodgers made the decision to convert Farmer into a catcher. In 2014, he made his pro baseball debut with the rookie–level Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League, then was promoted to the Great Lakes Loons of the Midwest League, later that year.[6] After 57 games with Great Lakes – where he hit .310 – Farmer was promoted again to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League, where he batted .238 in 36 games.[7]

Farmer began 2015 with the Quakes, where he was selected to the mid-season All-Star team.[8] Farmer did not play in the game due to his subsequent promotion to the Double-A Tulsa Drillers of the Texas League. Farmer was selected to represent the Dodgers organization at the All-Star Futures Game, in 2015.[9] He played in 76 games for Tulsa and hit .272.[6] Farmer returned to Tulsa to start the 2016 season[10] and was selected to the mid-season all-star game.[11] He played in 74 games for the Drillers in 2016, hitting .256 with five home runs and 31 runs batted in (RBI).[6] The Dodgers added Farmer to their 40-man roster, after the season.[12] He was promoted to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers during the 2017 season.[13]

Major leagues

Farmer was first called up to the big leagues, on July 28, 2017.[14] Two days later, in his first major league at bat, Farmer hit a walk-off two-run double off of Albert Suárez of the San Francisco Giants, in the bottom of the 11th inning, giving the Dodgers a 3–2 win.[15] Farmer appeared in 20 games for the Dodgers in 2017, primarily as a pinch hitter, and had six hits in 20 at-bats (.300).[16] He made the Dodgers roster for the 2017 NLDS and 2017 NLCS, having four at bats as a pinch hitter, without recording a hit.[16]

In 2018, Farmer appeared in 24 games in the field for the Dodgers, 22 of them at third base. He posted a stat line of .235/.312/.324 in 68 at bats.

Cincinnati Reds

On December 21, 2018, the Dodgers traded Farmer to the Cincinnati Reds, along with Yasiel Puig, Alex Wood, Matt Kemp, and cash considerations in exchange for Homer Bailey, Jeter Downs, and Josiah Gray.[17]

In 2019, Farmer hit .230 with 9 home runs and 27 RBIs in 97 games. The following season, he hit .266 in 32 games. On December 2, 2020, Farmer was non-tendered by the Reds and re-signed on a one-year contract.[18] In 2021, Farmer played in his first full season, hitting .263/.316/.416 with 16 home runs and 63 RBIs in 147 games.

During the early season of 2022, Farmer had 0 hits in 34 at-bats, which is the longest streak by a Reds position player since 1954. Farmer then ended that streak with a 3-run homerun in a game on May 11 against the Milwaukee Brewers.[19] On August 5, manager David Bell announced that Farmer would be the starting third baseman moving forward, with José Barrero assuming everyday duties at shortstop. The move ended Farmer's streak of 192 consecutive starts at shortstop.[20]

Minnesota Twins

On November 18, 2022, Farmer was traded to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Casey Legumina.[21]

On January 13, 2023, Farmer agreed to a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Twins, avoiding salary arbitration.[22] Farmer delivered a walk-off single against the Houston Astros during their home opener on April 7. [23] He required dental surgery after being hit in the face by a Lucas Giolito pitch on April 12. The Twins subsequently placed him on the ten-day injured list. [24] In 120 games for the team, he slashed .256/.317/.408 with 11 home runs and 46 RBI.

Farmer made 107 appearances for Minnesota during the 2024 campaign, batting .214/.293/.353 with five home runs and 25 RBI. The Twins declined their half of a 2025 mutual option on October 31, 2024, making him a free agent.[25]

Colorado Rockies

On November 23, 2024, Farmer signed a one-year contract with the Colorado Rockies including a mutual option for 2026.[26][27]

Personal life

Farmer proposed to his girlfriend, Courtney Sayre, in July 2017,[28] and they married in 2018. They reside in Atlanta and have two sons together.

Farmer grew up a fan of the Atlanta Braves.[29]

References

  1. ^ Lester, Brian (June 17, 2014). "Once blind-sided, Farmer adjusts to catching". MiLB.com. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  2. ^ Cunningham, Michael (July 12, 2015). "Braves prospect Albies shines with future stars". ajc.com. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  3. ^ "#5 Kyle Farmer - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  4. ^ Clarkson, Roger (February 14, 2013). "Kyle Farmer returns to UGA as world traveler with new respect for baseball". onlineathens.com. Athens Banner-Herald. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  5. ^ Clarkson, Roger (June 5, 2013). "Kyle Farmer 'ready to play' for whichever MLB team drafts him". Athens Banner-Herald. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c "Kyle Farmer Amateur, College, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  7. ^ Bernreuter, Hugh (June 20, 2014). "Los Angeles Dodgers prospect Kyle Farmer earns promotion". mlive.com. Booth Newspapers. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  8. ^ Dykstra, Sam (June 11, 2015). "Phillips, Reed headline Cal League All-Stars". MiLB.com. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  9. ^ Calcaterra, Craig (June 25, 2015). "Futures Game Rosters announced". nbcsports.com. NBC Sports. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  10. ^ Lewis, Barry (April 4, 2016). "Drillers' roster set for season opener". tulsaworld.com. Tulsa World. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  11. ^ Stephen, Eric (June 14, 2016). "Alex Verdugo, Willie Calhoun among 9 Texas League All-Stars for Double-A Tulsa". truebluela.com. SB Nation. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  12. ^ Gurnick, Ken (November 18, 2016). "De Jong among 3 added to Dodgers'40-man roster". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  13. ^ Unruh, Jacob (June 3, 2017). "OKC Dodgers: Prospect Kyle Farmer learning from veteran catchers". oklahoman.com. The Oklahoman. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  14. ^ Walton, Ryan (July 28, 2017). "Grant Dayton to DL, Kyle Farmer recalled". truebluela.com. SB Nation. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  15. ^ Haft, Chris; Thornton, Joshua (July 30, 2017). "LA wins 8th straight on Farmer's 1st hit in 11th". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  16. ^ a b "Kyle Farmer Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
  17. ^ Collier, Jamal (December 21, 2018). "Reds get Puig, Kemp, Wood, Farmer from LA". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  18. ^ "Reds cut Bradley, Goodwin, Casali; agree to deal with Farmer". Washington Post. December 4, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  19. ^ "Text from grandma, call to Hall of Famer bring end to Farmer's slump". MLB.com. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  20. ^ "Farmer 'up to the challenge' of move to 3B". mlb.com. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  21. ^ "Twins acquire SS Farmer in trade with Reds". November 19, 2022.
  22. ^ "2023 MLB Arbitration Tracker". MLBTradeRumors. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  23. ^ "Twins top Astros 3-2 on Farmer hit in 10th; Gray gets 13 Ks". ESPN. April 7, 2023.
  24. ^ "Minnesota Twins' Kyle Farmer needs surgery after being hit in face by pitch". April 13, 2023.
  25. ^ "Twins Decline Mutual Option On Kyle Farmer". MLB Trade Rumors. October 31, 2024.
  26. ^ "Colorado Rockies agree to one-year contract with infielder Kyle Farmer". MLB.com. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  27. ^ "Rockies agree to one-year deal with infielder Kyle Farmer". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 23, 2024. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  28. ^ Crasnick, Jerry (December 26, 2017). "Dodgers' Kyle Farmer, Alex Wood share a tattoo tribute to paralyzed former teammate". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved October 20, 2020. (Originally published on August 4, 2017.)
  29. ^ Duke, Tyler (August 4, 2017). "Kyle Farmer returns home to Atlanta as newest clutch Dodger". ajc.com. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
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