Kyle Farnsworth

Kyle Farnsworth
Tampa Bay Rays – No. 43
Relief pitcher
Born: (1976-04-14) April 14, 1976 Wichita, Kansas
Bats: Switch	Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 29, 1999 for the Chicago Cubs
Career statistics (through May 15, 2013)
Win–loss record	42–62
Earned run average	4.26
Strikeouts	922
Saves	52
Teams
Chicago Cubs (1999–2004) Detroit Tigers (2005) Atlanta Braves (2005) New York Yankees (2006–2008) Detroit Tigers (2008) Kansas City Royals (2009–2010) Atlanta Braves (2010) Tampa Bay Rays (2011–present)

Farnsworth pitching for the New York Yankees in 2007.

Kyle Lynn Farnsworth (born April 14, 1976) is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays.

High school and college

Farnsworth graduated from Milton High School in Milton, Georgia, in 1994. During high school, he played baseball, basketball, and football. He continued to play baseball in college at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia. Farnsworth is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon).

Major league career

Chicago Cubs

Farnsworth was drafted in the 47th round by the Chicago Cubs in 1994. He played for the Cubs from 1999 to 2004.

Kyle was the winning pitcher in the final baseball game played at Three Rivers Stadium. That game was played 1 October 2000 between the Pirates and the Cubs.

First stint with the Detroit Tigers

On February 9, 2005, he was traded to the Detroit Tigers for Roberto Novoa, Scott Moore and Bo Flowers.

First stint with the Atlanta Braves

On July 31, 2005, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves for pitchers Zach Miner and Román Colón.

New York Yankees

Following the season, Farnsworth signed with the New York Yankees, replacing Tom Gordon as the team's primary set-up man. The deal, worth $17 million over three years, was the second-highest offer Farnsworth received. The Texas Rangers reportedly offered a three-year, $16.5 million contract with a vesting option that would have taken the deal to $21 million, plus incentives.

He struggled in the 2006 season, accumulating a 4.36 ERA. His struggles continued into the 2007 season.

Second stint with the Tigers

On July 30, 2008, Farnsworth returned to the Tigers in a trade for Iván Rodríguez.

Kansas City Royals

On December 13, 2008, the Royals reached an agreement with Farnsworth on a two-year, $9.25MM deal.

Second stint with the Braves

On July 31, 2010, Farnsworth was re-acquired by the Braves along with Rick Ankiel.

Tampa Bay Rays

On January 15, 2011, Farnsworth agreed to a one-year, $3.25 million deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. On February 5, 2013, Farnsworth signed a one-year contract worth $1.25 million.

Incidents

Farnsworth was involved in a brawl that occurred in the 2003 season when his former team, the Chicago Cubs, were playing the Cincinnati Reds. Reds pitcher Paul Wilson stepped out of the batter's box after an inside pitch, and started to yell at Farnsworth. Farnsworth then met Wilson a short distance from home plate, and speared him to the ground. He was suspended three games for his actions, but MLB reduced the suspension to two games.

In the 2004 season, Farnsworth angrily kicked an electric fan in the Cubs' dugout after an outing in which he gave up six runs in one inning to the Houston Astros. Farnsworth ended up severely bruising and spraining his knee in the process, and was placed on the disabled list as a result.

Farnsworth was involved in a bench-clearing fight in the 2005 season while playing for the Detroit Tigers, against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. After order appeared to have been restored, Farnsworth tackled Royals pitcher Jeremy Affeldt. Farnsworth was ejected from the game.

On April 17, 2008, Farnsworth threw behind Boston Red Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez. While Farnsworth claimed that the ball slipped out of his hand as a result of trying to throw the ball as hard as possible, Ramirez was skeptical and surmised that the pitch was retaliation for Alex Rodriguez being plunked the prior night after hitting a home run in the game. Following Farnsworth's pitch, the umpire issued warnings to both dugouts that any ill-intentions from that point forward would result in ejections.

On June 17, 2009, Farnsworth's left, non-pitching hand was bitten while he was breaking up a fight between two of his American bulldogs—Strike and Rambo. The cuts were deep enough to reach, but not cut, a tendon. Farnsworth later taped his finger, tucked it into his glove, and went to practice telling manager Trey Hillman that he could pitch. When asked which of his dogs bit him, Farnsworth replied: "I don't know. I reached in there and started grabbing dogs and throwing dogs. And one of them got me. One of those things that happens. It's never pretty. I've had to do it a few times, and it's ugly."

External links

• Media related to Kyle Farnsworth at Wikimedia Commons
• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)