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T. J. McFarland

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T. J. McFarland
McFarland at the Pentagon in 2018
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1989-06-08) June 8, 1989 (age 35)
Palos Hills, Illinois, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
April 6, 2013, for the Baltimore Orioles
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record26–20
Earned run average4.10
Strikeouts318
Teams

Timothy John McFarland (born June 8, 1989) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles, Arizona Diamondbacks, Oakland Athletics, St. Louis Cardinals, and New York Mets.

Career

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Amateur career

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McFarland attended Amos Alonzo Stagg High School in Palos Hills, Illinois, where he played for the school's baseball and basketball teams for four years[citation needed]. As a senior, McFarland recorded 103 strikeouts while walking only 13 in 66+2⁄3 innings pitched. He signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Missouri and play college baseball for the Missouri Tigers baseball team.[1]

Cleveland Indians

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The Cleveland Indians selected McFarland in the fourth round of the 2007 MLB draft.[1] Rather than attend Missouri, McFarland signed with the Indians.[2] While pitching for the Kinston Indians of the High–A Carolina League in 2010, he was named to the all-star game.[3] McFarland spent the 2012 season with the Akron Aeros of the Double–A Eastern League and the Columbus Clippers of the Triple–A International League.[4]

Baltimore Orioles

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McFarland with the Orioles in 2013

The Baltimore Orioles selected McFarland from the Indians in the 2012 Rule 5 draft.[4] After a strong spring training,[5] he was named to the Orioles' Opening Day roster.[6] The Orioles traded fellow relief pitcher Luis Ayala in April 2013, further solidifying McFarland's hold on a roster spot and improving his chances of staying with Baltimore; a Rule 5 pick must remain with the MLB team that drafted him for the entire season or be offered back to the original team for $25,000. He earned his first career major league win on June 13, pitching an inning of relief against the Boston Red Sox. He made his first career start on June 28 against the New York Yankees.[7] In his first full major league season, McFarland made 38 appearances with all but one in relief.

McFarland earned his first major league win as a starter on July 1, 2014, against the Texas Rangers.[8]

Arizona Diamondbacks

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McFarland with the Diamondbacks in 2017

McFarland signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 3, 2017, one week after he was released by the Orioles.[9] The Diamondbacks promoted him to the major leagues on April 27.[10] On December 6, 2017, McFarland signed a one-year, $850,000 contract with the Diamondbacks.[11] In 2018, McFarland posted a career-best 2.00 ERA in 47 appearances. In 2019, he went 0–0 with a 4.82 ERA over 56 innings for the Diamondbacks.

Oakland Athletics

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On November 4, 2019, McFarland was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics.[12] In 2020 for Oakland, McFarland pitched to a 4.35 ERA with 9 strikeouts over 20.2 innings pitched in 20 appearances.[13] He became a free agent after the shortened 2020 season.[14]

Washington Nationals

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On February 16, 2021, McFarland signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals organization.[15] On March 27, McFarland was released by the Nationals.[16] On March 31, McFarland re-signed with the Nationals on a new minor league contract.[17] He was assigned to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings to begin the 2021 season, and logged a 5.25 ERA in 18 appearances before he was released on June 30.

St. Louis Cardinals

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On June 30, 2021, McFarland signed a split contract with the St. Louis Cardinals organization,[18] claiming that he had a better chance to get called up in St. Louis than in Washington. On July 16, McFarland's contract was selected to the active roster.[19] He spent the remainder of the season with St. Louis, going 4–1 with a 2.56 ERA in 38 relief appearances.[20] In 38+2⁄3 innings pitched, McFarland recorded 21 strikeouts and 12 double plays, the latter of which set a new franchise record after the All-Star break.[21] He was the losing pitcher in the NL Wild Card Game, surrendering a walk to Cody Bellinger, who later scored on Chris Taylor's tie-breaking walk-off home run.

On November 8, 2021, McFarland signed a one-year contract to return to the Cardinals.[21] On August 10, 2022, McFarland was designated for assignment.[22] At the time, he had a 6.61 ERA in 28 relief appearances.[20] After his release, McFarland was re-signed by the Cardinals to a minor league contract on August 23. He was assigned to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds.[23] He elected free agency on November 10, 2022.

New York Mets

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On December 20, 2022, McFarland signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets.[24] In 23 appearances for the Triple–A Syracuse Mets, he worked to a 2.76 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 32+2⁄3 innings pitched. On June 26, McFarland's contract was selected, adding him to the active roster.[25] In 3 appearances, he surrendered two runs (one earned) on four hits with two strikeouts in 1+2⁄3 innings of work. On July 14, he was designated for assignment following the activation of José Quintana from the injured list.[26] After clearing waivers, McFarland elected free agency in lieu of an outright assignment on July 18.[27]

Baltimore Orioles (second stint)

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On July 22, 2023, McFarland signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles organization.[28] In 21 games for the Triple–A Norfolk Tides, he pitched to a 1.80 ERA with 30 strikeouts across 30.0 innings of work. McFarland elected free agency following the season on November 6.[29]

Oakland Athletics (second stint)

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On January 26, 2024, McFarland signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers that included an invitation to spring training.[30] On March 26, the Dodgers traded him to the Athletics in exchange for cash consideration and he was added to the major league roster.[31]

Personal life

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McFarland and his wife, Jenna, married in 2016 and welcomed their first child, a son, in November 2021.[32]

In 2018, McFarland graduated from the University of Phoenix with a degree in business management.[33]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Cleveland selected 48 players in the '07 First-Year Player Draft" (Press release). Major League Baseball. June 8, 2007. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
  2. ^ "Barfield Missing As a Hitter, Won't Make Excuses, Wedge Seeks Consistency from Second Baseman, Gives Cabrera a Chance". Akron Beacon Journal. August 17, 2007. p. C5. Retrieved May 17, 2013. (subscription required)
  3. ^ "T.J. McFarland is a Carolina League All-Star! | MiLB.com News | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Milb.com. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  4. ^ a b Connolly, Dan (March 11, 2013). "Can T.J. McFarland pitch his way onto Baltimore Orioles' roster?". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  5. ^ Connolly, Dan (March 26, 2013). "Lefty T.J. McFarland is forcing the Orioles into a tough decision". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  6. ^ Encina, Eduardo A. (March 29, 2013). "Rule 5 pick T.J. McFarland makes Orioles Opening Day roster". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  7. ^ Encina, Eduardo A. (April 10, 2013). "Trade shows faith in lefty T.J. McFarland, but Orioles' Rule 5 pick knows he still has to perform". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
  8. ^ Wilson, David (July 1, 2014). "Orioles' power on display early in rout of Rangers". MLB.com. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  9. ^ Adams, Steve (March 3, 2017). "Diamondbacks Sign T.J. McFarland To Minor League Deal". MLB Trade Rumors.
  10. ^ "Miller has partial tear in UCL; McFarland promoted". April 27, 2017.
  11. ^ Todd, Jeff (December 6, 2017). "Diamondbacks Re-Sign T.J. McFarland". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  12. ^ Ben Ross (November 4, 2019). "A's acquire lefty reliever T.J. McFarland off waivers from D-backs". NBC Sports Bay Area. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  13. ^ "T.J. McFarland Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  14. ^ "MLB offseason begins: 147 players become free agents". USA Today. October 28, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  15. ^ "Nationals to Sign T.J. McFarland to Minors Deal". February 16, 2021.
  16. ^ "Nationals Select Jordy Mercer, Hernan Perez; Option Carter Kieboom". March 27, 2021.
  17. ^ "Minor MLB Transactions: 4/5/21". April 5, 2021.
  18. ^ "Cardinals Sign T.J. McFarland". June 30, 2021.
  19. ^ "Cardinals Select T.J. McFarland". July 16, 2021.
  20. ^ a b "T.J. McFarland Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  21. ^ a b "Cardinals sign reliever T.J. McFarland to one-year contract for 2022 season". MLB.com. November 8, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  22. ^ Chapley, Carter (August 10, 2022). "First Pitch: Cardinals call up Jake Woodford, part ways with T.J. McFarland". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  23. ^ Polishuk, Mark (August 23, 2022). "Cardinals Re-Sign T.J. McFarland". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  24. ^ "T.J. McFarland Stats, Fantasy & News".
  25. ^ "Mets' T.J. McFarland: Selected to MLB bullpen". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  26. ^ "Mets' T.J. McFarland: Designated for assignment". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  27. ^ "T.J. McFarland Elects Free Agency". mlbtraderumors.com. July 18, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  28. ^ "Orioles' T.J. McFarland: Joins Orioles on minors deal". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  29. ^ "2023 MiLB Free Agents". baseballamerica.com. November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  30. ^ "Dodgers' non-roster invites include veteran Hudson and top prospects". January 26, 2024.
  31. ^ "Athletics acquire reliever T.J. McFarland from Dodgers for cash". ESPN.com. March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  32. ^ "High School Sweethearts: An Event Spotlight on the Jones-McFarland Wedding Celebration". May 26, 2017.
  33. ^ "McFarland fulfills promise, earns degree". MLB.com.
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