In a tweet sent out by Detroit News writer Chris McCosky, the Detroit Tigers have made pitcher Buck Farmer a relief pitcher.
Buck Farmer is officially a reliever. He’s out of rotation plans for now, fighting for bullpen spot. ‘I’d rather be good at one job than mediocre at two.’
— Chris McCosky (@cmccosky) March 3, 2018
This move could give him an easier path to travel with the club up north when spring camp breaks. Which would be the second time in his career doing so. The only other time was in 2016 as a reliever filling in for the injured Alex Wilson and Blaine Hardy.
Farmer was drafted by the Tigers out of Georgia Tech in the 5th round of the 2013 MLB amateur draft and has started 19 games for the Tigers the past four seasons. In those starts, he has compiled a 5-10 record with a 7.99 ERA, and a 1.68 WHIP. Farmer has also worked out of the bullpen and has fared a little better. Posting a 4.53 ERA with a WHIP of 1.53. His batting average against is also better as a reliever. Hitters are hitting over .300 against Farmer as a starter compared to a more respectable .252 coming out of the pen. He did not pitch out of the bullpen for the Tigers in 2017. Last year, Farmer finished the season in the Tigers rotation going 5-5 in 11 starts. After his first two starts of the season where he pitched into the seventh inning against the White Sox and Angels without giving up a run in each start. He failed to pitch into the seventh inning in every start after that and only gave up less than three runs in three of his last nine starts.
Farmer was up against aforementioned Alex Wilson and Blaine Hardy, along with Daniel Norris and newly signed Fransico Liriano and others for the final spot in the rotation. It is worth mentioning that Farmer was awarded a fourth option year because the team exhausted his minor league options in less than five years. Meaning another trip down to Toledo is not out of the cards. However, Buck Farmer is hoping it does not come down to that as he knows this is a make or break year.
