Quick Facts
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Daniel Andres Farquhar (born February 17, 1987) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners.
Amateur career
Farquhar attended Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy High School in Southwest Ranches, Florida, where he played for the school's baseball team as a pitcher and outfielder. He batted .436 as a sophomore. As an outfielder, Farquhar was named to the All-District Second Team in 2004, his junior year. As a senior, he had a 0.89 ERA, a school record.
Farquhar enrolled in college at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he played for the Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns baseball team, competing in the Sun Belt Conference. As a college freshman, he was 6-1 with four saves and a 2.17 ERA. He led the Sun Belt Conference in ERA. In 2007, as a sophomore, Farquhar went 6-3 with six saves, a 3.08 ERA and 115 strikeouts to 22 walks in 87 2⁄3 IP. He was fourth in the conference in ERA and second in strikeouts. As a junior, he had a 3-8 record with a 4.95 ERA.
Professional career
Farquhar was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the tenth round, with the 309th overall selection, of the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft. He signed with Toronto.
Farquhar began the 2008 season with the Auburn Doubledays of the Class A-Short Season New York–Penn League, and was promoted to the Lansing Lugnuts of the Class A Midwest League. He finished 2008 with 2-2 win–loss record, 32.1 innings pitched (IP), and a 1.95 Earned run average (ERA). In 2009, he started the season with the Dunedin Blue Jays of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League and finished the season with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats of the Class AA Eastern League. In 2009, Farquhar had a 2-4 record, 1.87 ERA and 22 saves, in 62 2⁄3 IP. He was traded to the Oakland Athletics along with Trystan Magnuson for outfielder Rajai Davis after the 2010 season.
On April 18, 2011, Farquhar was traded to the Blue Jays in exchange for reliever David Purcey.
Farquhar made his major league debut on September 13, 2011, against the Boston Red Sox. He pitched 0.2 innings and allowed three earned runs on three hits, while walking two with no strikeouts. Farquhar was later optioned back to New Hampshire. On June 2, 2012, the Blue Jays designated Farquhar for assignment after claiming Chris Schwinden off waivers from the New York Mets.
On June 9, 2012 the Oakland Athletics claimed Farquhar off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays. After making five appearances in the minor leagues for the Sacramento River Cats, the Athletics waived him to select the contract of A. J. Griffin.
The New York Yankees claimed him off waivers on June 26 and optioned him to the Trenton Thunder, shifting Brett Gardner to the 60-day disabled list. However, he was placed on waivers just 3 days later, as the Yankees claimed Chris Schwinden, who had been waived by the Cleveland Indians.
On July 23, 2012, Farquhar and pitcher D. J. Mitchell were traded to the Seattle Mariners for right fielder Ichiro Suzuki.
Farquhar started the 2013 season with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers. His contract was purchased by the Mariners on May 17. On August 2, Farquhar replaced Tom Wilhelmsen as closer, and he recorded his first major league save on August 3 against Baltimore. From that point to the end of the season, he went 0-3 with 16 saves in 24 games, striking out 29 in 22.2 innings with a 2.38 ERA. Overall on the year, he went 0-3 with a 4.20 ERA in 46 appearances, striking out 79 in 55.2 innings.
On November 5, 2015, the Mariners traded Farquhar, Brad Miller, and Logan Morrison to the Tampa Bay Rays for Nate Karns, C. J. Riefenhauser, and Boog Powell.
The 2016 season was a roller coaster for Danny Farquhar and the Rays. On Arpil 23rd, 2016, Farquhar was sent down to Triple-A Durham, he was recalled on May 14th, but was designated for assignment the next day, and was back with Durham on the 16th. On June 25th, Farquhar was sent back up to the Rays, on the 26th, one day later, he was sent back down to Durham, on the 27th, he was called back up to the Rays. This time Farquhar made it 8 days before his July 5th demotion back to Durham. On August 6th, Farquhar was called back up to the Rays, this was his final transaction of the season. He finished the season with a 3.06 ERA in 35 games (35 & 1/3 innings) and 46 strikeouts.
The 2017 season has thus far been much more steady and satisfying for Farquhar. Currently, has pitched in 28 games, which leads the league.
Personal life
Farquhar is married to his high school sweetheart and they have one daughter and one son. Off the field, Farquhar enjoys the game of golf. He has said that he would like to coach and teach math at the high school level one day.