Buck Farmer

On January 10, 2020, the Tigers avoided arbitration with Farmer, agreeing on a one-year, $1.15 million contract.

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  ⁄3 innings, while posting career bests in ERA (3.72) and WHIP (1.271).

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  ⁄3 innings.

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.

In 2016, Farmer made the Tigers opening day roster. On April 16, 2016, Farmer was optioned to the Toledo Mud Hens. Farmer was recalled to the Tigers on May 22, after Drew VerHagen was optioned to Toledo that same day. 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. 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  ⁄3 innings pitched.

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​⁄3 innings.

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​⁄3 innings with 127 strikeouts and 28 walks.

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

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

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. 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.

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. After the 2011 season, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

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.

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