Buck Farmer

George Runie "Buck" Farmer (born February 20, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Buck Farmer
Farmer with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers – No. 45
Pitcher
Born: (1991-02-20) February 20, 1991
Conyers, Georgia
Bats: Left Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 13, 2014, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record15–21
Earned run average5.20
Strikeouts255
Teams

Early life

Farmer attended Rockdale County High School where he was a four-year letter winner and three-year captain. During his junior year, he posted a 1.50 earned run average (ERA), with a .443 batting average, while he posted a 2.02 ERA, with a .468 batting average during his senior year. Farmer holds the Rockdale single-game strikeout record with 22 against Dacula High School in 2008. He was named the most valuable player (MVP) of the 2008 Connie Mack World Series, and MVP of the 2008 World Wood Bat Championships. Farmer was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 46th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft, but did not sign and elected to play college baseball at the Georgia Institute of Technology for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.[1]

College career

Farmer began his collegiate career in 2010. During his freshman season, he posted a 5–1 record, and a 3.63 ERA in 19 appearances. He recorded his first career win on March 14, in four innings of relief against Wake Forest, holding the Deacons to no runs on just two hits. During his sophomore season, Farmer posted an 11–3 record, and a 2.82 ERA in 16 starts. He went 8–1 in conference play. The eight conference wins were the most by any pitcher in the league in 2011.[1] After the 2011 season, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[2]

During his junior season, Farmer pitched a team-high 106​2⁄3 innings, third in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). He posted a 3.54 ERA, and allowed just 100 hits with 37 walks and 115 strikeouts, third-most in the ACC. He was the ACC's only pitcher to pitch a complete-game shutout with his 1–0 win over Duke, earning him the ACC Pitcher of the Week and College Sports Madness National Pitcher of the Week.[3] After the season, he was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 15th round of the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft, but chose to return to Georgia Tech for his senior season.[4] During his senior season, Farmer posted 9–5 record in 17 starts, and a 2.78 ERA in 113​1⁄3 innings with 122 strikeouts. He ranked second in the ACC in strikeouts, and finished with a career best in ERA, innings pitched, and strikeouts.[5] He was a semifinalist for the ACC Pitcher of the Year.[6]

Professional career

Farmer was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the fifth round of the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft and signed a minor league contract.[7][8]

Farmer began the 2014 season with the Class A West Michigan Whitecaps, where he made 18 starts, before being promoted to the Double-A Erie SeaWolves, where he started two games. Between Class A and Double-A, Farmer was 11–5, with a 2.65 ERA, allowing 101 hits over 115​2⁄3 innings with 127 strikeouts and 28 walks.[9]

Farmer made his major league debut on August 13, 2014, in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.[10] In his debut, he pitched five innings, allowing four runs on six hits, while striking out four, and earning a no-decision.[11] He was optioned to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens following his debut.[12] The Tigers called up Farmer again on August 23, 2014 to start the first game of a doubleheader against the Minnesota Twins.[13] In his second major league start, Farmer pitched 1​1⁄3 innings, allowing seven runs on five hits, while walking two, and striking out three in a 12–4 loss.[14]

In 2015, Farmer made a spot start for the Tigers on May 28, against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, when he allowed seven runs on nine hits in five innings. He was recalled by the Tigers on June 24, 2015. In 12 starts with the Mud Hens, Farmer posted a 3.56 ERA with 59 strikeouts and 22 walks in 68​1⁄3 innings.[15]

In 2016, Farmer made the Tigers opening day roster. On April 16, 2016, Farmer was optioned to the Toledo Mud Hens.[16] Farmer was recalled to the Tigers on May 22, after Drew VerHagen was optioned to Toledo that same day.[17] On September 21, 2016, Farmer made his first major league start of the year against the Minnesota Twins, however the game was suspended as a result of rain.[18] In addition to the one start, Farmer made 13 relief appearances for the Tigers in 2016, posting a 4.60 ERA and 27 strikeouts in ​29 1⁄3 innings pitched.

In 2017, Farmer began the season with the Toledo Mud Hens. On May 26, Farmer received his second call-up of the year to Detroit. On May 27, Farmer started against the Chicago White Sox and recorded 11 strikeouts and zero earned runs giving him his first major league win. Farmer made 11 starts for the 2017 Tigers, going 5–5 with a 6.75 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 48 innings.

With the exception of one spot start, Farmer pitched the entire 2018 season out of the Tigers bullpen. He made 66 appearances, posting a 3–4 record with a 4.15 ERA, while striking out 57 batters in ​69 1⁄3 innings.

Farmer again filled a bullpen role in 2019, with the exception of one spot start. He went 6–6 on the season with 73 strikeouts in ​67 2⁄3 innings, while posting career bests in ERA (3.72) and WHIP (1.271).

On January 10, 2020, the Tigers avoided arbitration with Farmer, agreeing on a one-year, $1.15 million contract.[19] In the 2020 season (23 games), Farmer had a 3.80 ERA with 14 strikeouts in ​21 1⁄3 innings.

On January 15, 2021, the Tigers and Farmer agreed to a one-year, $1.85 million contract, avoiding arbitration.[20]

Scouting report

Throughout his career, Farmer relied on three pitches: a 91–95 MPH four-seam fastball (tops out at 97 MPH), a mid-80s MPH slider and a changeup.[21] In 2015, he added a two-seam fastball to his repertoire in order to generate more groundballs, a philosophy taught to him by his AAA pitching coach, Mike Maroth.[22]

References
  1. Buck Farmer Archived 2018-03-31 at the Wayback Machine Georgia Tech, August 12, 2014
  2. "#30 Buck Farmer - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  3. "Buck Farmer Named ACC Pitcher Of The Week". Georgia Tech. April 2, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  4. Aschermann Jr., Kurt (June 7, 2012). "Farmer drafted by Brewers; Bazzani picked by Orioles". The Rockdale Citizen. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  5. "Georgia Tech Has Four Drafted In First Five Rounds". Georgia Tech. June 7, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  6. "Farmer, Evans, Palka Named Semifinalists For National Awards". Georgia Tech. May 16, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  7. Nightengale, Bobby (June 7, 2013). "Farmer's smart moves benefit Tigers' Draft". MLB. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  8. Aschermann Jr., Kurt (June 15, 2013). "Farmer signs with Tigers". The Rockdale Citizen. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  9. Beck, Jason (August 12, 2014). "Farmer set to make spot start Wednesday". MLB. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  10. Iott, Chris (August 11, 2014). "Right-hander Buck Farmer to make major-league debut Wednesday night for Detroit Tigers". MLive. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  11. Beck, Jason (August 13, 2014). "Tigers' resurgent bats pick up Farmer in debut". MLB. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  12. Schmehl, James (August 14, 2014). "Buck Farmer sent to Toledo after major league debut; Detroit Tigers promote rookie Melvin Mercedes". MLive. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  13. Iott, Chris (August 23, 2014). "Detroit Tigers call up Kyle Lobstein, Patrick McCoy from Toledo; Robbie Ray, Ian Krol sent down". MLive. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  14. Beck, Jason (August 23, 2014). "Farmer roughed up as Tigers drop matinee". MLB.com. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  15. Fenech, Anthony (June 24, 2015). "Tigers recall Buck Farmer from Toledo, send down Ian Krol". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  16. Abshire, Chris (April 16, 2016). "With Wilson returning, Tigers option Farmer". MLB.com. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  17. Savage, Brendan (May 22, 2016). "Tigers option pitcher Drew VerHagen to Triple A Toledo, recall Buck Farmer". mlive.com. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  18. "Wednesday's Tigers-Twins game postponed; doubleheader Thursday". Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  19. Beck, Jason (January 10, 2020). "Tigers agree with Boyd, all arb-eligibles (source)". MLB.com. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  20. "Tigers avoid arbitration with all 8 remaining players". foxsports.com. January 16, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  21. http://www.baseballamerica.com/fantasy/expect-tigers-rhp-buck-farmer/
  22. http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2015/05/26/armed-with-new-pitch-farmer-ready-for-15-debut/27968689/
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