Kyle Farmer Bio
James Kyle Farmer, known professionally as Kyle Farmer, is an American professional baseball infielder who is currently a free agent. Over the course of his Major League Baseball (MLB) career, he has suited up for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, Minnesota Twins, and Colorado Rockies. A versatile defender who has seen time at shortstop, third base, and catcher, Farmer made his MLB debut in 2017 with the Dodgers after being drafted by the organization in 2013.
After being selected in the eighth round of the 2013 MLB Draft, Farmer steadily worked his way through the Los Angeles farm system before breaking into the big leagues. Following stints in Cincinnati, Minnesota, and Colorado, he entered free agency in November 2025 after the Rockies declined their half of a mutual option for 2026.
Early Life and Background
Kyle Farmer was born on August 17, 1990, and grew up in the Atlanta area. He attended Marist School in Atlanta, Georgia, where he played both baseball and football. His athletic versatility was on display early, and during his time at Marist he appeared in the 2009 film The Blind Side, playing a high school quarterback.
Farmer has long been a fan of the Atlanta Braves, the team he cheered for while growing up in Georgia. That connection to baseball in the Southeast helped shape his early development as a ballplayer, and it laid the groundwork for his future college career at a major Southeastern program.
Path to Baseball
Farmer continued his baseball career at the University of Georgia (UGA), where he played shortstop. He hit for a .308 batting average during his college career and posted a .968 fielding percentage at shortstop, a UGA Baseball team record at the position. In the summer of 2011, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League, a premier showcase for amateur talent.
Originally drafted by the New York Yankees in the 35th round of the 2012 MLB Draft, Farmer did not sign. The following year, the Los Angeles Dodgers selected him in the eighth round (244th overall) of the 2013 MLB Draft, and he signed with the organization. That decision launched his professional path through the Dodgers system.
Kyle Farmer Career
Early Career (2013–2016)
After signing with the Dodgers, the organization made the decision to convert Farmer into a catcher, expanding his defensive profile. In 2014, he made his professional debut with the rookie-level Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League before being promoted to the Great Lakes Loons of the Midwest League. He hit .310 in 57 games with Great Lakes, earning another promotion to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League, where he batted .238 in 36 games.
Farmer began 2015 with the Quakes and was selected to the mid-season All-Star team, though he did not play in the game because of a subsequent promotion to the Double-A Tulsa Drillers of the Texas League. He was also selected to represent the Dodgers organization at the 2015 All-Star Futures Game. He returned to Tulsa to start 2016 and was again named a mid-season All-Star, hitting .256 with five home runs and 31 runs batted in (RBI) in 74 games. After the 2016 season, the Dodgers added Farmer to their 40-man roster.
Los Angeles Dodgers Breakthrough (2017–2018)
Farmer was first called up to the big leagues on July 28, 2017, while he was playing for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers. Two days later, in his first major league at-bat, he delivered 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. The moment announced his arrival on the MLB stage.
In 2017, Farmer appeared in 20 games for the Dodgers, primarily as a pinch hitter, and recorded six hits in 20 at-bats for a .300 average. He made the Dodgers roster for both the 2017 NLDS and the 2017 NLCS, going hitless in four at-bats as a pinch hitter. In 2018, he appeared in 24 games in the field for the Dodgers, 22 of them at third base, posting a line of .235/.312/.324 in 68 at-bats.
Cincinnati Reds Era (2019–2022)
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. In 2019, Farmer hit .230 with 9 home runs and 27 RBI in 97 games, and the following season he hit .266 in 32 games. On December 2, 2020, he was non-tendered by the Reds and later re-signed on a one-year contract.
The 2021 season was Farmer’s first full MLB campaign, as he hit .263/.316/.416 with 16 home runs and 63 RBI in 147 games. During the early part of 2022, he went 0 for 34 at the plate, the longest hitless streak by a Reds position player since 1954, before ending it with a three-run homer against the Milwaukee Brewers on May 11. On August 5, 2022, manager David Bell announced that Farmer would be the starting third baseman going forward, with José Barrero taking over everyday shortstop duties, ending a streak of 192 consecutive starts at shortstop for Farmer.
Minnesota Twins Era (2023–2024)
On November 18, 2022, the Reds traded Farmer 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. Early in the 2023 season, he delivered a walk-off single against the Houston Astros during Minnesota’s home opener on April 7. He later required dental surgery after being hit in the face by a pitch from Lucas Giolito on April 12 and was placed on the ten-day injured list.
In 120 games for the Twins in 2023, Farmer slashed .256/.317/.408 with 11 home runs and 46 RBI. In 2024, he made 107 appearances for Minnesota, batting .214/.293/.353 with five home runs and 25 RBI. 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 contract with the Colorado Rockies that included a mutual option for 2026. He made 97 appearances for the Rockies in 2025, slashing .227/.280/.365 with eight home runs and 31 RBI. On November 4, 2025, the Rockies declined their side of the mutual option for 2026, returning him to free agency.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although this section is tailored to racing, the equivalent framing for Kyle Farmer centers on his defensive flexibility and contact approach. He has logged significant innings at shortstop, third base, and catcher, giving managers the freedom to shift him around the diamond. At the plate, he has shown the ability to deliver in key spots, including a walk-off double in his first MLB at-bat and a walk-off single for the Twins in 2023.
Notable Events and Milestones
Farmer’s first MLB at-bat, a walk-off two-run double against the San Francisco Giants in July 2017, remains a defining career moment. He also set a UGA record with a .968 fielding percentage at shortstop during his college career and was selected to the 2015 All-Star Futures Game as a top Dodgers prospect.
Kyle Farmer Career Wins
Kyle Farmer’s on-field resume is built on steady defensive play and timely hitting across multiple organizations. He has produced double-digit home run totals in multiple MLB seasons and delivered several walk-off hits, including his very first major league at-bat.
MLB Highlights
Farmer hit a walk-off two-run double in his first MLB at-bat on July 30, 2017, against the San Francisco Giants. In 2021, he played his first full MLB season with the Cincinnati Reds, hitting 16 home runs and driving in 63 runs. He also produced a walk-off single for the Minnesota Twins in their 2023 home opener against the Houston Astros.
Minor League & Amateur Performances
In the minors, Farmer earned mid-season All-Star selections with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in 2015 and the Tulsa Drillers in 2016, and he represented the Dodgers at the 2015 All-Star Futures Game. At the University of Georgia, he set a program record with a .968 fielding percentage at shortstop.
Kyle Farmer Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Farmer grew up in the Atlanta area and attended Marist School in Atlanta, Georgia. Beyond his own athletic path, the family side of his story is not detailed in available verified sources.
Personal Life
Farmer proposed to his girlfriend, Courtney Sayre, in July 2017, and the two married in 2018. They reside in Atlanta, Georgia, and have two sons together.
2025 Season Performance
Farmer spent the 2025 season with the Colorado Rockies after signing a one-year contract in November 2024. He appeared in 97 games, producing a slash line of .227/.280/.365 with eight home runs and 31 RBI, contributing middle-infield and corner-infield defense for the club.
His role with the Rockies gave him an everyday opportunity to play, and his eight home runs represented one of his more productive power outputs in recent seasons. The mutual option attached to his contract gave both sides flexibility heading into 2026.
On November 4, 2025, the Rockies declined their half of the 2026 mutual option, making Farmer a free agent. His next chapter, whether as a free-agent signing or a minor-league deal, will be shaped by his positional versatility and his track record of timely hitting in key spots.