Indians Top 100 Prospects: #52 TJ McFarland

52. TJ McFarland - Left-handed Pitcher
Born: 06/08/1989 - Height: 6'3" - Weight: 190 - Bats: Left - Throws: Left

Year	Age	Team	Lvl	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	BB/9	K/9	WHIP
2008	19	GCL Indians	R	3	4	5.07	12	10	0	55.0	70	31	3	15	38	2.5	6.2	1.55
		Career		3	4	5.07	12	10	0	55.0	70	31	3	15	38	2.5	6.2	1.55

History: McFarland was a 4th round pick in the 2007 Draft out of Amos Alonso Stagg High School (IL).

Strengths & Opportunities: His fastball sits around 91-92 MPH and has topped out as high as 94 MPH in high school. His fastball is a two-seamer, so he gets good sink on the pitch. He also throws a slider and changeup, with the slider having the makings of a good breaking ball and the changeup still a work in progress. He throws all three pitches for strikes and really trusts his fastball. He is not scared of contact, and as he matures as a pitcher will likely be more of a groundball type pitcher because of the sinking action he gets with his fastball. The main focus for McFarland is adjusting him to the professional game where as a starter he follows a normal five day routine. He also needs to continue refining his mechanics with his secondary pitches, commanding the zone with his fastball in and out to hitters, and repeating his delivery.

McFarland hurt his elbow as a high school junior but avoided Tommy John surgery. He did not pitch with the Indians in 2007 because he complained of some elbow soreness shortly after signing so the Indians felt it best to be extremely cautious with their new prized top draft pick. The elbow problem turned out to just be tendonitis, which was the result of throwing too many innings earlier in the year in high school. He was a 100% in the spring and all throughout extended spring training and through the Gulf Coast league he was the most consistent pitcher down in Winter Haven in the summer. He really impressed with his showing in the Gulf Coast League, and if not for one bad outing the numbers would be even better than what they were.

Outlook: McFarland showed good progress last year, and given his draft standing should open the 2009 season in the Single-A Lake County rotation.

Photo courtesy of Ken Carr

TJ McFarland MinorLeagueBaseball.com stats page

TJ McFarland Baseball-Reference page

TJ McFarland MinorLeagueSplits.com page

TJ McFarland videos:

Posted in: T.J. McFarland