With Justin Turner sidelined for the start of the 2018 season, Kyle Farmer benefited with extra playing time early on. He was among three catchers featured on the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Opening Day roster, but what solidified Farmer’s inclusion was his ability to play either of the infield corner positions.
Farmer, along with Logan Forsythe, was part of the contingent to see time at third base in Turner’s absence. He initially impressed on the defensive side, which allowed him to remain with the Dodgers through the first two months of the season.
Farmer was sent back to the Minors in early June and didn’t return until rosters expanded in September. He struggled in his second stint, recording only one hit in seven games.
All-in-all, Farmer hit .235/.312/.324 with four doubles, one triple and nine RBI in 77 plate appearances at the Major League level (39 games).
Sandwiched in between his two Major League stops was a lengthy one with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Over 79 games for the Oklahoma City Dodgers, he hit a solid .288/.333/.451 with 24 doubles and seven home runs across 312 plate appearances.
2018 Highlight:
On April 27 against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park, Farmer tallied his only multi-hit game in the Majors. He went 3-for-4 with three singles and played all nine of his innings at third base.
2019 Outlook:
Farmer is pre-arbitration eligible this offseason, not yet having accumulated a full year of Major League service time. With Yasmani Grandal likely to depart in free agency, Farmer is one of four catchers currently on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster (Austin Barnes, Rocky Gale, Keibert Ruiz).
That figures to change over the course of the offseason, as the Dodgers will almost certainly acquire a new starter at some point this winter. Farmer could still factor into the Dodgers’ plans, however, given his defensive flexibility to play multiple positions.
