Timothy John McFarland (born June 8, 1989) is an American professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...

who is a free agent. He has previously played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB) for the

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. As one of the America ...

Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West Division. The franchise was established ...

St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Centra ...

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...

, and

Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...

Athletics Athletics may refer to: Sports * Sport of athletics, a collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking ** Track and field, a sub-category of the above sport * Athletics (physical culture), competitio ...

Career

Amateur career

McFarland attended

Amos Alonzo Stagg High School Amos Alonzo Stagg High School, Stagg, or AAS, is a public four-year high school located at the intersection of S. Roberts Rd. and W. 111th Street in Palos Hills, Illinois, a southwest suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part ...

Palos Hills, Illinois Palos Hills is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is a southwest suburb of Chicago. The city was established in 1958 and had reached a population of 18,530 in the 2020 census. It is named after Palos de la Frontera, Spain, from wh ...

, where he played for the school's baseball and basketball teams for four years. As a senior, McFarland recorded 103 strikeouts while walking only 13 in innings pitched. He signed a

letter of intent A letter of intent (LOI or LoI, or Letter of Intent) is a document outlining the understanding between two or more parties which they intend to formalize in a legally binding agreement. The concept is similar to a heads of agreement, term she ...

to attend the

University of Missouri The University of Missouri (Mizzou or MU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Columbia, Missouri, United States. It is Missouri's largest university and the flagship of the four-campus Univers ...

and play

college baseball College baseball is baseball that is played by Student athlete, student-athletes at institutions of higher education. In the United States, college baseball is sanctioned mainly by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); in Japan, ...

for the

Missouri Tigers baseball The Missouri Tigers baseball team represents the University of Missouri in NCAA Division I college baseball. The Missouri Tigers have an all-time record of 2426-1701-20 following the 2025 season. Head coaches Year-by-year record CB=''Collegia ...

team.

Cleveland Indians

The

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. Since , the team ...

selected McFarland in the fourth round of the

2007 MLB draft The 2007 Major League Baseball draft, was an annual choosing of high school and college baseball players, held on June 7, 2007 and June 8, 2007. The first day session of the draft included the first 25 rounds and was scheduled to be broadcast "l ...

. Rather than attend Missouri, McFarland signed with the Indians. While pitching for the

Kinston Indians The Kinston Indians were a Minor League Baseball team of the Carolina League (CL) located in Kinston, North Carolina, from 1978 to 2011. They played their home games at Grainger Stadium, which opened in 1949. The team began play in 1978 as the Kin ...

of the High–A

Carolina League The Carolina League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated along the Atlantic Coast of the United States since 1945. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 unti ...

in 2010, he was named to the all-star game. McFarland spent the 2012 season with the

Akron Aeros The Akron RubberDucks are a Minor League Baseball team based in Akron, Ohio. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. They play in Canal Park, located in downtown Akron, which seats 7,63 ...

of the Double–A Eastern League and the

Columbus Clippers The Columbus Clippers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. They are located in Columbus, Ohio, and are named for speedy Merchant ship, merch ...

of the Triple–A

International League The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major ...

Baltimore Orioles

On December 6, 2012, the

selected McFarland from the Indians in the

Rule 5 draft The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball (MLB) player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor lea ...

. After a strong

spring training Spring training, also called spring camp, is the preseason of the Summer Professional Baseball Leagues, such as Major League Baseball (MLB), and it is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spri ...

, he was named to the Orioles' Opening Day roster. The Orioles traded fellow relief pitcher Luis Ayala in April 2013, further solidifying McFarland's hold on a roster spot and improving his chances of staying with Baltimore; a Rule 5 pick must remain with the MLB team that drafted him for the entire season or be offered back to the original team for $25,000. He earned his first career major league win on June 13, pitching an inning of relief against the

Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...

. He made his first career start on June 28 against the

New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...

. In his first full major league season, McFarland made 38 appearances with all but one in relief. McFarland earned his first major league win as a starter on July 1, 2014, against the Texas Rangers. In 37 appearances for the Orioles in 2014, he compiled a 4-2 record and 2.76 ERA with 34 strikeouts across innings pitched. McFarland pitched in 30 contests for Baltimore in 2015, posting a 2-2 record and 4.91 ERA with 26 strikeouts over innings of work. McFarland made 16 relief appearances for the Orioles during the 2016 campaign, but struggled to a 6.93 ERA with 7 strikeouts across innings pitched. On February 19, 2017, McFarland was

designated for assignment Designated for assignment (DFA) is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball (MLB). A player who is designated for assignment is immediately removed from the team's 40-man roster, after which the team must, within seven days, return the pla ...

following the acquisition of Vidal Nuño. He was released by Baltimore on February 26.

Arizona Diamondbacks

On March 3, 2017, McFarland signed a minor league contract with the

. The Diamondbacks promoted him to the major leagues on April 27. In 43 games for Arizona, McFarland logged a 4-5 record and 5.33 ERA with 29 strikeouts across 54 innings. On December 6, 2017, McFarland re-signed with the Diamondbacks on a one-year, $850,000 contract. In 2018, McFarland posted a career-best 2.00 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 47 appearances. In 2019, he recorded a 4.82 ERA with 35 strikeouts in 56 innings over 51 games for the Diamondbacks.

Oakland Athletics

On November 4, 2019, McFarland was claimed off waivers by the

. In 2020 for Oakland, McFarland pitched to a 4.35 ERA with 9 strikeouts over innings pitched in 20 appearances. He became a free agent after the shortened 2020 season.

Washington Nationals

On February 16, 2021, McFarland signed a minor league contract with the

Washington Nationals The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. They play their home games at Na ...

organization. On March 27, McFarland was released by the Nationals. On March 31, McFarland re-signed with the Nationals on a new minor league contract. He was assigned to the Triple-A

Rochester Red Wings The Rochester Red Wings are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. They are located in Rochester, New York, and play their home games at Innovative Fie ...

to begin the 2021 season, and logged a 5.25 ERA in 18 appearances before he was released on June 30.

St. Louis Cardinals

On June 30, 2021, McFarland signed a split contract with the

organization, claiming that he had a better chance to get called up in St. Louis than in Washington. On July 16, McFarland's contract was selected to the active roster. He spent the remainder of the season with St. Louis, going 4–1 with a 2.56 ERA in 38 relief appearances. In innings pitched, McFarland recorded 21 strikeouts and 12 double plays, the latter of which set a new franchise record after the All-Star break. He was the losing pitcher in the NL Wild Card Game, surrendering a walk to Cody Bellinger, who later scored on Chris Taylor's tie-breaking walk-off home run. On November 8, 2021, McFarland signed a one-year contract to return to the Cardinals. On August 10, 2022, McFarland was designated for assignment. At the time, he had a 6.61 ERA in 28 relief appearances. After his release, McFarland was re-signed by the Cardinals to a minor league contract on August 23. He was assigned to the Triple-A

Memphis Redbirds The Memphis Redbirds are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. They are located in Memphis, Tennessee, and are named for their Major League Baseball affiliate. The Redbird ...

. McFarland elected free agency following the season on November 10.

New York Mets

On December 20, 2022, McFarland signed a minor league deal with the

. In 23 appearances for the Triple–A

Syracuse Mets The Syracuse Mets are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets. They are located in Syracuse, New York, and play their home games at NBT Bank Stadium, which ope ...

, he worked to a 2.76 ERA with 37 strikeouts in innings pitched. On June 26, McFarland's contract was selected, adding him to the active roster. In 3 appearances, he surrendered two runs (one earned) on four hits with two strikeouts in innings of work. On July 14, he was designated for assignment following the activation of José Quintana from the injured list. After clearing waivers, McFarland elected free agency in lieu of an outright assignment on July 18.

Baltimore Orioles (second stint)

On July 22, 2023, McFarland signed a minor league contract with the

organization. In 21 games for the Triple–A

Norfolk Tides The Norfolk Tides are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. They are located in Norfolk, Virginia, and are named in nautical reference to the city's loc ...

, he pitched to a 1.80 ERA with 30 strikeouts across 30 innings of work. McFarland elected free agency following the season on November 6.

Oakland Athletics (second stint)

On January 26, 2024, McFarland signed a minor league contract with the

Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...

that included an invitation to spring training. On March 26, the Dodgers traded him to the Athletics in exchange for cash consideration and he was added to the major league roster. On November 7, 2024, McFarland re-signed with the Athletics on a one-year, $1.8 million contract. He made 27 appearances for the Athletics in 2025, pitching to a 6.89 ERA with seven strikeouts across innings pitched. On June 27, McFarland was designated for assignment. He was released after clearing waivers on July 4.

Personal life

McFarland and his wife, Jenna, married in 2016 and welcomed their first child, a son, in November 2021. In 2018, McFarland graduated from the

University of Phoenix University of Phoenix (UoPX) is a Private university, private For-profit higher education in the United States, for-profit university headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. Founded in 1976, the university confers certificates and degrees at the Ac ...

with a degree in business management.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:McFarland, TJ 1989 births Living people Aberdeen IronBirds players Akron Aeros players American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela Arizona Diamondbacks players Athletics (baseball) players Baltimore Orioles players Baseball players from Cook County, Illinois Bowie Baysox players Caribes de Anzoátegui players Columbus Clippers players Frederick Keys players Gulf Coast Indians players Gulf Coast Orioles players Kinston Indians players Lake County Captains players Major League Baseball pitchers Memphis Redbirds players New York Mets players Norfolk Tides players Oakland Athletics players People from Palos Hills, Illinois Phoenix Desert Dogs players Reno Aces players Rochester Red Wings players St. Louis Cardinals players Stockton Ports players Syracuse Mets players