T.J. McFarland Bio
Timothy John McFarland (born June 8, 1989) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. Over a Major League Baseball (MLB) career that began in 2013, he has played for the Baltimore Orioles, Arizona Diamondbacks, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, and Oakland Athletics / Athletics. A left-handed reliever, McFarland has built his career on long outings, soft contact, and an ability to record ground-ball outs. He was originally drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 2007 and developed into a reliable bullpen arm through the minor leagues before making his MLB debut.
Known throughout baseball simply as T.J. McFarland, the pitcher has spent more than a decade in professional baseball, cycling between the majors and Triple-A while maintaining a steady presence on rosters across both leagues. His journeyman path includes a career-best season in 2018, a memorable late-season run with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2021, and a return to Oakland that concluded in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Timothy John McFarland grew up in the Chicago area and attended Amos Alonzo Stagg High School in Palos Hills, Illinois, where he played both baseball and basketball for four years. As a senior, he recorded 103 strikeouts while walking only 13 batters across 66 and two-thirds innings pitched, drawing attention from professional scouts. Following his high school career, McFarland signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Missouri and play college baseball for the Missouri Tigers.
Instead of heading to college, McFarland was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the fourth round of the 2007 MLB draft and chose to begin his professional career immediately. He has since balanced baseball with continued education, graduating from the University of Phoenix in 2018 with a degree in business management.
Path to Professional Baseball
McFarland began his professional journey in the Cleveland Indians organization, working his way through the minor leagues as a starting pitcher. While pitching for the Kinston Indians of the High-A Carolina League in 2010, he earned a spot in the league all-star game, signaling his development as a prospect. He spent the 2012 season split between the Akron Aeros of the Double-A Eastern League and the Columbus Clippers of the Triple-A International League, reaching the upper levels of the Indians’ system.
On December 6, 2012, the Baltimore Orioles selected McFarland from the Indians in the Rule 5 draft, a move that quickly accelerated his path to the majors. After a strong spring training, he was named to the Orioles’ Opening Day roster in 2013, marking the beginning of his MLB career.
T.J. McFarland Career
Early Career (2013-2016)
McFarland made his MLB debut with the Baltimore Orioles in 2013 and earned his first career major league win on June 13, pitching an inning of relief against the Boston Red Sox. Later that month, he made his first career start against the New York Yankees. In his first full major league season, he appeared in 38 games, with all but one coming in relief. His role as a long reliever gave Baltimore flexibility in their bullpen, and he posted a 4-2 record with a 2.76 ERA across 37 appearances in 2014.
Over the next two seasons, McFarland continued to serve as a depth arm for the Orioles, pitching in 30 games in 2015 and 16 games in 2016. His time in Baltimore ended in February 2017 when he was designated for assignment following the acquisition of Vidal Nuño and was released shortly afterward.
Arizona Diamondbacks Breakthrough (2017-2019)
On March 3, 2017, McFarland signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks and was promoted to the majors on April 27. In 43 games for Arizona, he logged a 4-5 record with a 5.33 ERA, re-establishing himself as a reliable middle reliever. After being non-tendered at the end of 2017, he re-signed with the Diamondbacks on a one-year, $850,000 contract.
The 2018 season proved to be the high point of McFarland’s career. He posted a career-best 2.00 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 47 appearances, becoming a trusted left-handed option out of the Arizona bullpen. In 2019, he recorded a 4.82 ERA with 35 strikeouts across 56 innings over 51 games before the Diamondbacks moved on at season’s end.
Oakland Athletics Era (2020-Present)
On November 4, 2019, McFarland was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics. In the shortened 2020 season, he pitched to a 4.35 ERA with 9 strikeouts over 20 and two-thirds innings in 20 appearances before becoming a free agent. After brief stints in the Washington Nationals, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, and a return to the Baltimore Orioles organization, McFarland rejoined Oakland in 2024 via a trade from the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In 2024, McFarland made 79 appearances out of the bullpen for the Athletics, compiling a 2-4 record and a 3.81 ERA with 39 strikeouts across 56 and two-thirds innings. He re-signed with Oakland on a one-year, $1.8 million contract in November 2024 and made 27 appearances in 2025 before being designated for assignment on June 27 and released on July 4.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most memorable moments of McFarland’s career came in October 2021, when he was the losing pitcher in the National League Wild Card Game for the St. Louis Cardinals. He later set a Cardinals franchise record for double plays induced after the All-Star break that same season, going 4-1 with a 2.56 ERA in 38 relief appearances.
T.J. McFarland Career Wins
Across his MLB career, Timothy John McFarland has compiled a 26-20 win-loss record with a 4.18 earned run average and 325 strikeouts. His win total reflects years of consistent work as a long reliever and middle-inning option for multiple organizations.
MLB Highlights
McFarland’s first major league win came on June 13, 2013, in relief against the Boston Red Sox. He earned his first win as a starter on July 1, 2014, against the Texas Rangers. His most productive season came in 2018 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, when he posted a career-best 2.00 ERA across 47 appearances.
Other Performances
In the minor leagues, McFarland was a Carolina League all-star in 2010 and reached Triple-A with both the Columbus Clippers and later the Syracuse Mets, Norfolk Tides, and Memphis Redbirds. His minor-league résumé includes several strong stretches, including a 1.80 ERA in 21 games for the Norfolk Tides in 2023.
T.J. McFarland Family
Personal Life
Timothy John McFarland and his wife, Jenna, married in 2016. The couple welcomed their first child, a son, in November 2021. He graduated from the University of Phoenix in 2018 with a degree in business management, balancing his off-the-field education with the demands of a professional baseball schedule.
2025 Season Performance
McFarland entered the 2025 season with the Oakland Athletics after re-signing on a one-year, $1.8 million contract in November 2024. He made 27 relief appearances for Oakland, pitching to a 6.89 ERA with seven strikeouts across 15 and two-thirds innings of work.
On June 27, 2025, McFarland was designated for assignment, and he was released after clearing waivers on July 4. Following his release, he became a free agent, leaving the door open for a potential return to a major league bullpen.