Countdown to Spring Training - 52 Days
Farrell's professional career started in 1984 when he was selected in the 2nd round by the Cleveland Indians. Throughout his professional baseball career, he has split time between the minor league system and the majors. Farrell enjoyed a 13-year career with three different major league organizations, starting with the Cleveland Indians (1987-90, 95), the California Angels (1993-94), and finally the Detroit Tigers (1996).
Farrell's big league debut came August 18th, 1987 against the Milwaukee Brewers. His first three seasons with the Cleveland Indians were impressive, as he compiled a win-loss record of 28-25, and an ERA of 3.86 while pitching 12 complete games. Unfortunately, his playing career was derailed as he was forced to miss the entire 1991 and 1992 seasons due to a right elbow injury. In 1996, he made his final Major League appearance with the Detroit Tigers.
When he retired as a player, following the 1996 season, Farrell wasted no time getting into coaching as he spent five seasons as assistant coach/pitching and recruiting coordinator at Oklahoma State University. While as OSU, he had huge impact on the baseball program instilling new disciplines and methods. Farrell had a hand in mentoring 14 pitchers that were drafted or signed as non-drafted free agents at the professional level - including 1999 Rookie of the Year, Scott Williamson. While working for the team, he also completed his bachelor's degree at OSU in 1996.
In 2001, Farrell returned to the team that drafted him when he became the Director of Player Development for the Cleveland Indians. He continued to work in this position until joining the Boston Red Sox in 2006.
Farrell moved from the front office back to the diamond as pitching coach, and in his first season the team finished with a 3.87 ERA en route to winning the World Series. In his four years with the Red Sox, Boston pitchers had an ERA of 4.11.
Farrell brought this expertise with him to the Toronto Blue Jays for his first season with the club in 2010, and as we all remember the team finished with a respectable win-loss record of 81-81.
Off the field, Farrell is married with three children. Baseball obviously runs in the Farrell family, as his two sons have both been drafted to Major League teams. His eldest son, Jeremy, was drafted in the 8th round in 2008 to the Pittsburgh Pirates and is currently playing in the minor leagues. His younger son, Shane, was drafted in 2011 to the Toronto Blue Jays in the 46th round.
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