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. During his junior season, Farmer pitched a team-high 106 innings, third in the Atlantic Coast Conference. 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. 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. During his senior season, Farmer posted 9–5 record in 17 starts, and a 2.78 ERA in 113 innings with 122 strikeouts. He ranked second in the ACC in strikeouts, and finished with a career best in ERA, innings pitched, and strikeouts. He was a semifinalist for the ACC Pitcher of the Year.
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. Farmer began the 2014 season with the Class AWest 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 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-AToledo 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 innings, allowing seven runs on five hits, while walking two, and striking out three in a 12–4 loss. 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 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 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 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 innings, while posting career bests in ERA and WHIP. On January 10, 2020, the Tigers avoided arbitration with Farmer, agreeing on a one-year, $1.15 million contract.
Scouting report
Throughout his career, Farmer relied on three pitches: a 91–95 MPH four-seam fastball, 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.
