Former Marist, Georgia standout Kyle Farmer ‘just trying to make the team’

Now 35, Farmer made his MLB debut with the Dodgers in 2017 and since has played for the Reds, Twins and Rockies, respectively. His best years were in Cincinnati at the start of the decade, but sharp declines in production led to the Rockies declining to pick up an option on his contract at the end of last season.

That led to the Braves extending an invitation to the utility player who said he’s willing to do whatever it takes (except maybe try catcher again, he joked) to make the squad at the end of March.

“Just playing multiple positions, kinda just being a guy in the locker room young guys can lean on,” Farmer said of his spring training mindset.

Farmer was a shortstop at UGA, where he put together a career that had him in the top 10 in program history in games played, hits, total bases, RBIs and doubles. His ability to be a top-notch defender made him an eighth-round draft pick by the Dodgers in 2013.

The Dodgers, curiously, wanted Farmer to be a catcher, although he played shortstop and third in the minors along the way before reaching The Show in 2017. Farmer wound up playing only 59 games for the Dodgers before signing with the Reds as a free agent in 2020.

Six years later he found himself speaking with reporters in the Braves spring training clubhouse about how his father, Bryan Farmer, was on Triple-A teams with Braves legends David Justice and Mark Lemke, and how Jeff Blauser used to be a frequent visitor at the Farmer household.

“Everyone raves about (Farmer) as a guy, as a teammate, as a pro,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “That stuff’s important. And he’s performed at the big league level for quite a while now. That experience means something, too. And the versatility that he brings. He’s a local kid, that makes the story even better, but people rave about the makeup.”

Farmer also noted how when he was honored at a banquet in 2013 for being the state of Georgia’s most outstanding scholar athlete, he took the stage at that particular event with former Braves third baseman Chipper Jones, being honored after his retirement, and current Braves first baseman Matt Olson, being honored for his accomplishments in high school.

“I spent a lot of time at Georgia in my off seasons in the minors. That’s actually where I met my wife. I had a buddy who played on the team there, and I would just kinda go live my college experience a little bit and go hang out. I came across (Farmer) a bunch, and clearly played against him these last however few years,” Olson said.

“Great dude. I’ve heard nothing but good things about him and his family. To see the kind of positions that he can play, that’s important for a team, somebody you can kind of mix around, somebody you know who’s gonna work hard and can take a pro at-bat and play multiple positions and be a good guy on top of that. A really good add.”

Farmer’s odds of making the opening-day roster are likely thin, realistically. The Braves have Mauricio Dubón and Jorge Mateo vying for time at shortstop while the club waits for the return of Ha-Seong Kim from the injured list. Mike Yastremski was signed to play left field along with returner Jurickson Profar. While Sean Murphy rehabs from injury, Jonah Heim is likely the No. 2 catcher behind Drake Baldwin.

Infielders Luke Williams and Brett Wisely also are options in the infield.

But Farmer indicated he knows what he’s up against and said he’s excited about the challenge.

“At this point in my career, I’m just happy for an opportunity,” Farmer said.