Kyle Farmer Bio
James Kyle Farmer is an American professional baseball infielder who most recently played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves. He has previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, Minnesota Twins, and Colorado Rockies. The Los Angeles Dodgers selected him in the 2013 MLB draft, and he made his MLB debut with them in 2017. A versatile defender who has spent time at shortstop, third base, second base, and catcher, Farmer is widely respected for his defensive reliability and team-first approach.
Early Life and Background
Kyle Farmer was born on August 17, 1990, and grew up in the Atlanta, Georgia area. He graduated from the Marist School in Atlanta, where he played both high school baseball and football. While at Marist, he even appeared in the 2009 film The Blind Side as a high school quarterback, a small but memorable role in a major motion picture.
Farmer continued his baseball career at the University of Georgia, where he played shortstop for the Bulldogs. He hit for a .308 batting average and recorded a .968 fielding percentage, a Bulldogs team record for a shortstop. In 2011, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League, one of the most prestigious summer leagues in the country.
Path to Major League Baseball
Farmer was first selected in the 2012 MLB draft, when the New York Yankees took him in the 35th round, but he did not sign. The following year, the Los Angeles Dodgers drafted him in the 8th round, 244th overall, of the 2013 MLB draft, and he signed with the organization. The Dodgers made the decision to convert him from shortstop into a catcher early in his development, broadening his defensive profile.
He made his pro baseball debut in 2014 with the rookie-level Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League before being promoted to the Great Lakes Loons of the Midwest League. He was later promoted to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League, and by 2015, he was playing in the Double-A Tulsa Drillers. In 2015, he was selected to the All-Star Futures Game, an early indication of his prospect status.
Kyle Farmer Career
Early Career (2014–2016)
Farmer began climbing the minor league ladder in 2014, advancing from Ogden to Great Lakes and then to Rancho Cucamonga. With Great Lakes, he hit .310 in 57 games, earning a quick promotion. He began 2015 with the Quakes, was named to the mid-season All-Star team, and was later promoted to Double-A Tulsa, where he hit .272 in 76 games.
In 2016, Farmer returned to Tulsa and was again selected to the mid-season All-Star game. He played 74 games for the Drillers, hitting .256 with five home runs and 31 runs batted in, while dealing with injuries to his right wrist and a right toe. After the 2016 season, the Dodgers added Farmer to their 40-man roster, and in 2017, he was promoted to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers.
Los Angeles Dodgers (2017–2018)
Farmer was first called up to the big leagues on July 28, 2017. Two days later, in his first major league at bat, he hit a walk-off two-run double off Albert Suárez of the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the 11th inning, giving the Dodgers a 3–2 win. He appeared in 20 games for the Dodgers in 2017, primarily as a pinch hitter, and recorded six hits in 20 at-bats for a .300 average. He made the Dodgers roster for the National League Division Series and the National League Championship Series, going 0-for-4 as a pinch hitter.
In 2018, Farmer appeared in 24 games in the field for the Dodgers, 22 of them at third base. He posted a slash line of .235/.312/.324 in 68 at-bats. On December 21, 2018, the Dodgers traded Farmer to the Cincinnati Reds, along with Yasiel Puig, Alex Wood, Matt Kemp, and cash considerations, in exchange for Homer Bailey, Jeter Downs, and Josiah Gray.
Cincinnati Reds (2019–2022)
In his first season with Cincinnati, Farmer hit .230 with nine home runs and 27 RBIs in 97 games. In the shortened 2020 season, he hit .266 in 32 games. On December 2, 2020, he was non-tendered by the Reds and re-signed on a one-year contract. In 2021, he played his first full season, hitting .263/.316/.416 with 16 home runs and 63 RBIs in 147 games, and he set franchise records for highest fielding percentage and fewest errors by a shortstop.
On April 27, 2022, Farmer hit four doubles, tied for the most in a nine-inning MLB game, but he soon endured an 0-for-34 streak, the longest by a Reds position player since 1954. He ended that streak on May 11 with a three-run home run against the Milwaukee Brewers. On August 5, 2022, manager David Bell announced that Farmer would be the starting third baseman moving forward, ending a streak of 192 consecutive starts at shortstop. He received the team’s most valuable player and “good guy” awards from local baseball writers.
Minnesota Twins (2023–2024)
On November 18, 2022, Farmer was traded to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for pitcher Casey Legumina. On January 13, 2023, he agreed to a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Twins, avoiding salary arbitration. He hit a walk-off single against the Houston Astros during the Target Field home opener on April 7, 2023, but later that month, he required dental surgery after being hit in the face by a Lucas Giolito pitch, sending him to the ten-day injured list. In 120 games, he slashed .256/.317/.408 with 11 home runs and 46 RBIs.
Farmer made 107 appearances for Minnesota in 2024, batting .214/.293/.353 with five home runs and 25 RBIs. On October 31, 2024, the Twins declined their half of a 2025 mutual option, making him a free agent.
Colorado Rockies Era (2025)
On November 23, 2024, Farmer signed a one-year, $3.25 million contract with the Colorado Rockies, including a mutual option for the 2026 season. He made 97 appearances for the Rockies, slashing .227/.280/.365 with eight home runs and 31 RBIs. On November 4, 2025, the Rockies declined their side of the mutual option for 2026, making him a free agent once again.
Atlanta Braves Era (2026–Present)
On February 6, 2026, Farmer signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves, the team he grew up rooting for as a child. On March 21, 2026, the Braves signed Farmer to a split major league contract, bringing him back to his hometown organization. He wears jersey No. 15 for the Braves.
Driving Style and Strengths
Farmer is valued across MLB for his defensive versatility, having played catcher, shortstop, second base, and third base at the major league level. His arm strength and reliability at shortstop made him a defensive cornerstone during his time in Cincinnati, where he set franchise fielding records. He profiles as a contact-oriented hitter who keeps the line moving and plays within himself.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most memorable moments of Kyle Farmer’s career came in his first major league at bat, when he delivered a walk-off two-run double for the Dodgers. He later hit four doubles in a single game for the Reds and set franchise fielding records at shortstop in Cincinnati. His return to Atlanta in 2026, with the team he grew up cheering for, added a notable emotional milestone to his career journey.
Kyle Farmer Career Wins
As a contact-oriented utility infielder, Kyle Farmer’s professional résumé is defined more by consistency, durability, and defensive value than by raw win totals. He has appeared in more than 700 major league games across five organizations, contributing key hits, including multiple walk-off moments, and steady defense at multiple positions.
MLB Highlights
Through May 8, 2026, Farmer’s MLB career totals include a .248 batting average, 63 home runs, and 288 runs batted in. His walk-off double in his first major league at bat remains a signature moment, and he has recorded additional walk-off hits for both the Reds and the Twins. His 192 consecutive starts at shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds and his franchise fielding records there stand among his most notable career accomplishments.
Kyle Farmer Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Kyle Farmer was raised in the Atlanta, Georgia area and attended the Marist School, where he developed as both a baseball and football player. Charlie Leibrandt, a former major league pitcher, served as his high school pitching coach during his formative years and helped guide his early baseball development.
Personal Life
Farmer proposed to his girlfriend in July 2017, and the two married in 2018. His wife’s name is Courtney Sayre. The couple resides in Atlanta, Georgia, and they have two sons. Farmer grew up a fan of the Atlanta Braves, the team he would eventually join in 2026.
2025 Season Performance
In 2025, Kyle Farmer played his first season with the Colorado Rockies after signing a one-year, $3.25 million contract in November 2024. He made 97 appearances for Colorado, working primarily as a versatile infielder off the bench and in spot starts. He finished the year slashing .227/.280/.365 with eight home runs and 31 RBIs, providing steady veteran presence for a young Rockies roster.
On November 4, 2025, the Rockies declined their side of the mutual option for 2026, making Farmer a free agent. Despite a down offensive year, his defensive versatility and clubhouse presence kept him in demand. He drew interest from multiple organizations looking for experienced infield depth and a right-handed bat off the bench.
Farmer ultimately landed with the Atlanta Braves, the team he grew up cheering for as a child in suburban Atlanta. On February 6, 2026, he signed a minor league contract with the Braves, and on March 21, 2026, the club converted that deal into a split major league contract. With his hometown team, Farmer was expected to compete for a utility role and provide depth at shortstop, second base, and third base, while offering leadership in a young clubhouse.
