Catching Up with Kyle Farmer

Not too long ago, Georgia baseball had a shortstop, a really good shortstop named Kyle Farmer. Farmer played in 212 games (starting 211), had 18 home runs, 168 runs batted in and had a batting average of .308 throughout his career. He is in the top-five in career hits and runs batted in Bulldog history.

He also holds records for best fielding percentage by a Georgia shortstop. After his junior season he was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 35th round but decided to come back and improved his draft status and was drafted after his senior season by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 8th round.

Farmer signed and is currently one of their best prospects. But a funny thing happened on the way. He switched positions and is now a catcher and that isn't effecting his play one bit.

He has played in all-star games and also represented the United States in the 2015 Futures Game. He has played for Ogden Raptors, Great Lakes Loons, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, Glendale Desert Dogs and he is currently part of the Tulsa Drillers organization. Currently he is hitting .295 for the Dodgers' Double A ball club.

Recently I was in Tulsa covering NCAA Tennis and I thought it would be the perfect time to catch up and interview one of the most clutch hitters to ever wear the red and black.

Dave McMahon - Has becoming a major league ball player always been your goal?

Kyle Farmer - Yeah, ever since I was probably three or four years old, I’ve always wanted to play in a big league stadium no matter the team. Obviously the Atlanta Braves was my dream at one point in my life because growing up in Atlanta watching Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Tom Glavine all those guys, Chipper Jones… I always wanted to be in that spotlight and I am on the way now… it is definitely a grind, but it is a lot of fun. My dad pitched Triple A for the Braves and he always taught me to be a professional, you have to act professional and that is what I have been working on and that is what I want to do.

DM - In case some Bulldog fans missed and haven't paid attention, you made the move to catcher. How did that come about?

KF –So my junior year, no one really knows this, but in my junior year I got a call in the fifth round by the Reds and they wanted me to catch. I was like, I don’t really want to do that. I want to play shortstop because I was thought I was good enough to play. So I returned my senior year at Georgia and it happened to be that every team after that year wanted me to catch. So I like well... I got my senior year under my belt, but they want me to catch just because I am not the quickness at the foot... also I have good hands behind the plate and I can hit well for a catcher. Now I really enjoy it. It is a great leadership role for me. I love being in control of the game and calling pitches is what I really like to do. Working with the pitchers and that’s one of the main things I like doing. Also, it is working with the team inside of the team, the pitcher and catcher relationship, the battery of the game and that is what some people don’t understand. It is a beautiful thing when everything clicks and that is what I love the most about it.

DM - Prior to the move, when was the last time you caught?

KF - I have never ever caught in my entire life. My first game catching… my first time ever catching was the first game in rookie ball in Ogden, Utah. Damon Berryhill who actually played for the Atlanta Braves was my manager and I walked in the dugout. I walked into the clubhouse and I saw the lineup card I was batting third and catching. I went up to him and said I have never done this before. He said, listen I want to see what you got and so that happened and they next morning I really regretted it. My body was sore, as sore it has ever been, but I have learned a lot, the Dodgers have been great with teaching me and have been patient with me learning how to catch. Their staff has been unbelievable.

DM - What is the toughest part about being a catcher?

KF - It is probably the flexibility and being in control of the game and not letting the game speed up on you. That’s probably the toughest thing. Physically, it’s flexibility and keeping your body in shape. I know my hips were terrible in the beginning and now they're better.

DM - Do you study every batter, the opponents' batter ... what their strengths and weaknesses are?

KF – Yeah, yesterday since Frisco came to town and they are a team we haven’t seen. So, I got here two hours before everyone shows up and watch video on the opposing hitters. I find their weak spots and find what they can or can’t do well and depending on what pitcher we have going that night, I have to find out what is good with him and what matches up with the hitter. There are a lot of behind the scene work that goes into it.

DM - What do you have to work on to one day make the majors?

KF – Consistency. That is one thing that gets guys in the major leagues is consistency. I have to be consistent each and every day with receiving, with catching and with hitting at the same time. I have done a really good job with it so far, but as the year goes on you have to learn to take care of your body and perform at the highest level. Some people say you have to decrease the slumps. If you are going through a slump you have to figure how to get out of it as quick as possible and that’s how you get to the big leagues.

DM - Backtrack to this season. You were invited to play in spring training this year. What was that like?

KF - That was awesome. It was my first big league spring training. It happened that it worked out perfectly that me and Alex Wood were together. He was my roommate in spring training in the same locker room. He was my roommate in college and now he is my roommate in spring training, but it was awesome. Dodgers like Justin Turner, (Scott) Van Slyke, A.J. Ellis, Yasmani Grandal ... they all welcomed us in with open arms and helped us out a lot and meeting Doc, Dave Roberts for the first time was awesome. He was a great guy and great manager and it was a lot of fun and I learned a lot.

DM - Last year you played in the Futures Game and represented the United States. What was that like?

KF – That was really cool, that is something I always wanted to do. That is something that I can check that off my bucket list. I have seen so many guys go through that experience. I have always wanted to do it. I got the phone call and they say I was selected to play in the Futures game and I was ecstatic. It was a dream come true for me. That was one of my goals growing up to play in that game and it happened. It was perfect and I got to play with some of the best in the league right now and most of those guys are in the big leagues and it was fun that knowing you are able to play with them.

DM - You are currently playing for the Dodgers' Double-A team in Tulsa. How is the season going for you?

KF – It is going good. We are making strides. I hit a slump a little bit for a week or so. I was hitting around .320, then I hit a slump like we talked about but I learned how to get out of it. But it is a lot of fun, playing every day is a lot of fun. We have a great staff here a great manager, I am enjoying my time in Tulsa.

DM - In college and so far in your few years in the minors you are hovering around the .300 mark. Is that a goal fo you every season?

KF – It is. Yes, you know, I am not going to hit for much power. I am mostly going to get doubles and triples and hopefully get in a clutch situation and get a RBI in, but I strive to hit above .300 or around .300. That is something that I have always done my entire life is hit and I have to keep that going and trying to work hard at it.

DM - How close is the movie Bull Durham to what life is like in the minor leagues?

KF – That is funny you ask that. It is very, very similar. You’re praying for a rainout some days. Some days there is a lot of voodoo in the dugout when you are praying for a hit or something like that. It is pretty much spot on except for the girls. The girls in the locker room doesn’t really happen. It is pretty much spot on. I love that movie.

DM - Minor leagues are known for their crazy promotions. What are some of the crazier ones that you've seen?

KF – When I was in Rancho Cucamonga last year they had, I forgot his name, he was in Anchorman, he was an actor in Anchorman, he’s the old guy, I forgot to look it up, but he is at all the games in Rancho Cucamonga

DM – The Sports Guy? Was is the Champ Kind characterr?

KF – No, he was the old producer guy, he’s in a bunch of movies, you may have to look him up?

DM – Was it Fred Willard? The dark-haired guy?

KF – Yes, I think so. That and I like the dizzy bat race especially after they are drinking. I love to watch that. It is funny.

DM - What were some of your best memories with the Bulldogs back from your day?

KF – I have two favorite memories. One was my sophomore year and we were at Auburn. We were down by nine runs going into the eighth inning and we rallied back. Eventually we were down by two and I came up with the bases loaded and I ended up hitting a home run, a grand slam to take the lead and we won that and that helped us to make it to the SEC Tournament. I remember after I hit it seeing into the dugout and I see (David) Perno jumping over the rail, he is going crazy, everybody is jumping out the dugout and going crazy. That was one of my coolest experiences.

But also my other favorite one was also in my sophomore year, sophomore or junior year. J.T. (Johnathan Taylor) and Chance (Veazey) were both in the dugout at the SEC Tournament for these three games… we beat South Carolina, Florida and I think Auburn to make a regional. We went to the game against Florida and we were .500, our record was .500 and you had to be a game above .500 to make a regional and we beat Florida that game and everyone was going crazy because we made the regional. It was so cool to see J.T. and Chance there and I remember Zach Cone was wearing J.T. number two that game because that was J.T.’s number. Just the fact we beat two top-ten teams in the country to make it to a regional was pretty special and that was one of my favorite memories because we were so close and we fought so hard and Perno wanted it so bad. That was probably my best experience.

DM - Have you played against any of your former teammates in the last few years?

KF – Zach Cone is here today… he is with Frisco. I played against Nelson Ward… he is with San Antonio. Those are the only two I have played against so far. It is really fun playing against them especially since with me catching. I can see them coming up to bat and I know how to get them out.

DM – You throw a little inside to them?

KF – We get them off the plate a little bit, I get them scared. It’s fun messing with them. It is great to see those guys again.

DM - Do you keep in touch with many of your former teammates or coaches?

KF - Jason Eller, I keep in touch with, he calls me… He’s down with Armstrong or Augusta State or something like that and Perno I keep it touch with. Also Jason Jacobs, J.J.. I think he still lives with Athens as well. He is doing some SEC commentary. I was watching some SEC games with (Alex) Wood in spring training and I saw him on TV and J.J. was announcing them so I texted him and told him to give me a shout out real quick and he started talking about me on the air and that was cool.

DM - What do you miss most about Athens, or maybe a restaurant that you don't have here in Tulsa?

KF – That is a really hard question… If I can take a restaurant it would have to be Amici. I love their wings. I love Amici wings. Also my house was on Talmadge Street which was right behind Canes and Locos so we can walk to the football field every Saturday. What I miss most is waking up in the morning and having all of our buddies over, family, friends for our tailgate and then we can walk over to the game. I miss those Saturday mornings in the fall so much. We always talk about going back. It was me and five other guys living in the house. It was me, Brett DeLoach, Chance Veazey, Alex Wood and Curt Powell and we would always wake up and getting ready for the game and it was a lot of fun. That and walking to class everyday and seeing the campus… the campus is beautiful… nothing better. That and the girls, the girls are something you don’t see every day here in Tulsa.

DM – You were a pretty good quarterback in high school. You think you can quarterback for the Dawgs this fall in case Eason, Lambert or Ramsey don't work out?

KF – You know, I was next door neighbor with Aaron Murray and we would go out to the front yard and throw the football around and I was like… I was thinking, I have an arm as good as Murray does… I can go out there and play and then Hutson Mason came out. I was good friends with Hutson, too and I was like I can definitely go out and play quarterback now. I have seen some video on Eason. Eason looks like he is a good quarterback and he has a heck of an arm and I wish the best for him.

DM – When is the next time you will be in Athens?

KF – I am going to the Auburn game this year. Me and Wood got a hotel room downtown at Holiday Inn and we got a tailgate spot right there and I will be there for the Auburn game.

DM – I appreciate your time.

KF – No problem, Go Dawgs!