The Detroit Tigers, in the thick of a division race but in need of an emergency starter, have turned to former Georgia Tech ace Buck Farmer. The three-time All-ACC pitcher and recent call-up to Detroit’s Double-A team will make his major-league debut Wednesday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Comerica Park.
Farmer was drafted in the fifth round last year by Detroit, spent 2013 with the Tigers’ rookie-league team before making the jump to A ball this year. He was 10-5 for single-A West Michigan in the Midwest League with a 2.60 ERA and a WHIP of 1.109. He was called up to Double-A Erie at the start of the month and has made two starts. In his last appearance, a 3-2 extra-innings win over New Hampshire, he went six innings with two runs allowed. Attendance was 2,893. The Tigers have averaged 35,600 this season.
Farmer was moved up to Double-A precisely to prepare Farmer for this possibility, according to MLive. MLB.com rated Farmer as the No. 8 prospect in the Tigers' chain by MLB.com, but also estimated his arrival time to the major leagues as 2016. MLive also reported that Farmer is scheduled to make one start, but "could find himself in the rotation for some time" if Justin Verlander goes on the disabled list with shoulder soreness.
