T.J. McFarland Stats & Scouting Report

IP	56.2
ERA	3.81
WHIP	1.24
BB/9	2.7
SO/9	6.19

Full name Timothy John McFarland
Born 06/08/1989 in Palos Park, IL
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Amos Alonso Stagg
Debut 04/06/2013
Drafted in the 4th round (137th overall) by the Cleveland Guardians in 2007 (signed for $285,000).

View Draft Report

T.J. McFarland has surged late in the spring. A 6-foot-3, 190-pound lefthander, he started touching 90 mph regularly with his fastball in April, and figured to be a fifth- to seventh-round pick. In his last two starts, he sat at 91-92 mph and touched 93. He could go as high as the second or third round and now figures to be signable despite a commitment to the Missouri. That's a far cry from where McFarland stood last spring, when he had a sore elbow and the initial diagnosis was that he'd need Tommy John surgery. A second opinion resulted in a diagnosis of tendinitis and he avoided surgery. McFarland's delivery is a little awkward, but he also has a curveball he can throw for strikes.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

McFarland made steady progress in five years in the Indians system, reaching Triple-A and tying for the minor league lead with 16 wins in 2012. When Cleveland declined to protect him on its 40-man roster, the Orioles took him in the major league Rule 5 draft in December. He can't be sent to the minors in 2013 without being exposed to waivers and offered back to the Indians for half his $50,000 draft price, but he has a decent chance of winning a job on Baltimore's staff, perhaps even in the back of the rotation. McFarland relies on command and deception more that stuff. His best pitch is his average 77-81 mph slider, which he sets up by spotting his 87-90 mph fastball all over the strike zone. He also has a fringy changeup. The Orioles made their surprising 2012 playoff run in part because they found unlikely pitching help from a variety of sources, and McFarland could be another useful pickup. If he can't cut it as a starter, his slider could help him make it as a situational reliever.
McFarland hasn't moved quickly but he has put himself on the radar with consistent performance. Though he lacks overpowering stuff, he has succeeded by sinking the ball and piling up groundouts. His fastball sits in the high 80s with heavy life and tail, which makes it difficult for hitters to lift. With his large, thick frame, he isn't likely to add velocity, so he'll have to rely on movement and the refinement of his secondary pitches and control. He pitches well off his fastball, moving it in and out. He throws across his body, which isn't ideal but does provide some deception from his low three-quarters arm slot. McFarland's sweeping slider and changeup are both fringy, but he mixes his them well and has good feel for his craft. While his upside is limited, he could be a back-of-the-rotation starter or middle reliever in the majors. His next step is Triple-A.

Best Tools List

Rated Best Control in the Cleveland Guardians in 2013

Career Transactions

LHP T.J. McFarland elected free agency.
LHP T.J. McFarland assigned to Los Angeles Dodgers.
LHP T.J. McFarland assigned to Norfolk Tides.
Baltimore Orioles signed free agent LHP T.J. McFarland to a minor league contract.
LHP T.J. McFarland elected free agency.
New York Mets sent LHP T.J. McFarland outright to Syracuse Mets.
New York Mets sent LHP T.J. McFarland outright to Syracuse Mets.
New York Mets designated LHP T.J. McFarland for assignment.
New York Mets selected the contract of LHP T.J. McFarland from Syracuse Mets.
New York Mets selected the contract of LHP T.J. McFarland from Syracuse Mets.
LHP T.J. McFarland roster status changed by New York Mets.
New York Mets invited non-roster LHP T.J. McFarland to spring training.
LHP T.J. McFarland and assigned to Syracuse Mets.