Timothy John (T.J.) McFarland¡born on June 8, 1989 in Palos Park, Ill¡he and his wife, Jenna, reside in Clarendon Hills, Ill., with their son, Hudson, who was born in November 2021¡drafted in the fourth round of the MLB Draft by the Cleveland Indians in 2007 out of Amos Alonzo Stagg High School.
2023
Signed by the New York Mets to a minor league contract on Dec. 20, 2022...In 23 games with Triple-A Syracuse, delivered a 2-2 record with a 2.76 ERA (10 ER/32.2 IP), striking out 37 batters against 17 walks...Played three games for New York-NL, going 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA (1 ER/1.2 IP)...Elected free agency on July 18 and signed to Baltimore on July 22...Fired a 3-0 record with a 1.80 ERA (6 ER/30.0 IP) with 30 strikeouts while holding batters to a .206 average in 21 relief appearances...Tossed a season-high five strikeouts twice on the year, once with Triple-A Syracuse on June 24 and again on Aug. 27 against Durham).
2022
Appeared in 28 games for St. Louis and pitched to a 6.61 ERA (24 ER/32.2 IP) before he was designated for assignment on Aug. 10...Was released on Aug. 12...Signed with St. Louis on Aug. 23 and made 14 relief appearances with Memphis (AAA).
2021
Made his Cardinals debut on July 16 and appeared in 38 games post All-Star Break, most among MLB left-handers and 2nd overall in the National League (Leone, SF, 39)... Induced 12 double plays to lead all National League relievers, tied for the MLB high with Kyle Zimmer (KC)... His 12 ground into double plays induced post All-Star Break were most by a Cardinals left-handed pitcher since Jaime Garcia had 12 in 2011, as a starting pitcher... Led all Cardinals pitchers and ranked T-2nd in the National League with 15 appearances in both August and September... Posted a 62.8% ground ball percentage, his 4th-best single-season total and best since a career-high 68.3 with Arizona in 2018. Did not qualify for the league relief leaders, but would have ranked 4th with qualifying totals... Made four appearances recording two outs or more and throwing five pitches or less, tied for the most in MLB along with teammate Giovanny Gallegos... Post All-Star Break, ranked T-4th among National League relievers in Holds (15) and compiled the most in MLB after August 19 with 12 Holds... His 2.56 ERA post All-Star Break ranked 11th in the National League among all qualifying pitchers, while his 2.79 GIDP was T-1st with Chad Kuhl (PIT)... His four wins were 4th-most on the Cardinals among relief pitchers... Allowed only 11 extra-base hits, matching his career-low also done with the Athletics in 2020... Recorded his highest total of opposing batters swinging at the first pitch at 34.3% as well as his best single-season mark of first-pitch strike percentage (52.4%).
2021 POSTSEASON: Appeared in the 9th inning of the Wild Card game at Los Angeles Dodgers and took the loss after allowing a walk to Cody Bellinger, while recording two outs, before Chris Taylor hit a two-run walk-off home run off reliever Alex Reyes.
2020
Posted a 0.68 ERA (1 ER/13.1 IP) with just two walks across his first 15 games of the season from July 25 to Aug. 29...Left-handed batters were 4-for-21 (.190) over this stretch...Finished his only season in Oakland 2-0 with a 4.35 ERA in 23 games.
2019
Had no decisions and a 4.82 ERA in a career-high 51 relief appearances with Arizona¡did not have a save opportunity¡since the save became a stat in 1969, he is one of three pitchers to appear in 50 or more games with no wins, losses or save opportunities¡joins Aaron Loup (TOR/PHI) in 2018 and Sam Freeman (TEX) in 2015¡had nine holds, which were two shy of his career total of 11 entering the season¡ranked third among National League relievers in ground-ball percentage (61.1) and fourth in ground balls (116)¡allowed a .316 opponents batting average, including .292 (35-for-120) against left-handed hitters compared to .343 (36-for-105) against right-handers¡yielded a .317 average with runners in scoring position¡opponents hit .393 with five of his six home runs with no outs, .289 with one out and .246 with two outs¡his career splits are .322/.287/.254¡first batters faced were 15-for-49 (.306) but he walked just two (.333 on-base percentage)¡allowed 12-of-32 (37.5%) inherited runners to score¡logged a 6.37 ERA in 19 games before the All-Star Break¡then had a 3.08 ERA in 32 appearances after the break¡had a 2.70 ERA in 18 outings on one day of rest or fewer, a 6.00 ERA on two days rest or more¡compiled a 6.04 ERA at home compared to 3.58 on the road¡posted a 7.39 ERA in 27 games against NL West competition compared to 1.48 ERA in 24 games against all other teams¡opponents were successful in 2-of-7 (28.6%) stolen base attempts and the five caught stealings tied the A's Ryan Buchter for the most in the majors among relievers¡had a career-high and team-leading three pickoffs¡had a first-pitch strike percentage of 56.5 and his 22.1% swing-and-miss percentage was a career high¡went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts as a hitter¡tossed two innings or more in eight of his first 14 appearances through June 21 but just once in 37 games after that.
Began the season on the injured list with an inflamed left shoulder¡was assigned to Triple-A Reno April 18 on a rehab assignment and logged a 4.50 ERA (4.0 ip, 3 h, 2 r, 2 er, 1 bb, 7 so) in three games before he was reinstated from the IL April 29¡tossed a season-high 3.0 innings May 30 at Colorado, allowing a season-high three runs on six hits¡matched his season high by pitching 3.0 innings June 21 against San Francisco¡that gave him 25.1 innings over his first 14 appearances¡would log just 30.2 innings over his final 37 games¡had a 7.47 ERA in 10 games in June, which put his season ERA at 6.37¡then posted a 1.80 ERA and .200 opponents batting average in nine appearances in July¡did not allow a run in 13 of 15 appearances from July 2 to Aug. 13 for a 1.13 ERA and .196 opponents batting average¡however, allowed 6-of-14 (42.9%) inherited runners to score¡struck out a career-high six batters in 2.2 innings July 23 against Baltimore, a season-high for a D-backs reliever¡had a season-best 6.0-inning scoreless streak from Aug. 3 to 13¡allowed eight runs over a three-game stretch from Aug. 16 to 20, including Aug. 17 against San Francisco when he yielded a career-high tying seven hits and a season-high tying three runs in 1.2 innings¡then did not allow a run in 13 of his final 15 appearances beginning Aug. 23¡had a 2.35 ERA over that span but opponents hit .344¡did not surrender a run over his final seven appearances (3.1 ip) but faced just one batter in five of those outings¡did not strike out a batter in nine appearances in September (4.0 ip).
2018
Set career bests in appearances (47), ERA (2.00), WHIP (1.19), opponent average (.239), opponent on-base pct. (.296), opponent slugging pct. (.336) and opponent OPS (.631)...Ranked among NL relievers in ground balls (2nd, 153), groundball pct. (3rd, 68.3), groundball-to-flyball ratio (3rd, 4.50) and ERA (4th, 2.00)...On the 10-day disabled list with a strained left neck from July 12-23 and did not pitch after Sept. 8 due to inflammation surrounding a bone spur in his left elbow...His 59.2 innings at the All-Star break were the most by a D-backs reliever all-time ahead of Byung-Hyun Kim (58.1 IP in 2001)...Recorded his first career save on June 22 @ Pirates.
2017
Went 4-5 with a 5.33 ERA, 29 strikeouts and 17 walks in a career-high 43 appearances in his first season with the D-backs...Led National League relievers in 2017 in ground-ball pct. (69.8) and finished second in ground ball-to-fly ball ratio (4.88)...Limited lefties to a .222 average and a .548 OPS...Was a non-roster invitee to Spring Training by Arizona.
2015
Made 16 multi-inning relief appearances with the Orioles...Tossed a season-high 4.0 innings on 10/1 vs. TOR • Finished second among AL relievers in ground ball percentage (65.7%) and third in ground ball/fly ball ratio (4.48) • Had five stints with the Orioles: 5/8-24, 6/3-14, 6/24-25, 6/28 (G2) and 8/4-end of season • Went 2-3 with a 2.91 ERA (17 ER/52.2 IP) and a save over 16 games (nine starts) with Triple-A Norfolk...Allowed one run or fewer in six of those nine starts • Allowed one earned run over his last four appearances (all in relief) with Norfolk prior to being recalled on 8/4, posting a 1.13 ERA (8.0 IP) in that span • Retired 21 of his 30 first batters faced and stranded 14-of-15 inherited runners
2014
Posted a 2.68 ERA (53.2IP, 16ER) in 36 relief outings...Pitched 1.0 inning or more in 30 of his 36 appearances out of the bullpen...Struck out 2.62 batters per walk, the best mark of his two-year career...Also made one start, July 1 vs. TEX earning his 1st career win as a starter (5.0IP, 2ER)...Posted a 0.57 ERA (15.2IP, 1ER) in eight games in June...Went 1-0 with a 2.01 ERA (22.1IP, 5ER) in 17 games after the All-Star break...Pitched to a 0.79 ERA (11.1IP, ER) in his final 10 outings of the season, beginning August 16.
2013
Spent the season with the O's, making 38 appearances (one GS)... Made ML debut, April 6 vs. MIN (3.1 scoreless IP, H, season-high tying 5K)... Posted a 2.92 ERA (24.2IP, 8ER) in his first 12 appearances, April 6-May 28... Recorded 1st ML win, June 13 vs. BOS... Struck out season-high tying five in 3.2 scoreless innings, June 15 vs. BOS... Tossed career-high 4.1IP, June 23 @TOR... Made 1st career start, June 28 vs. NYY, taking a no-decision (2.2IP, 7H, 3ER, BB, 4K)... Pitched to a 2.53 ERA (10.2IP, 3ER) in six July games... Suffered 1st ML loss, August 13 @ARI (Goldschmidt walk-off HR)... In his final eight games, posted a 0.90 ERA (10.0IP, ER)... Posted a 33-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio against LHH... In 18 road games, pitched to a 2.67 ERA (33.2IP, 10ER) PRO
2012
Split the season between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus and led all Cleveland farmhands with 16 wins ?Went 8-2 with a 2.69 ERA (60.1IP, 18ER) in 10 starts with the Aeros to start the season...Began the year 8-1 with a 1.79 in his first nine starts before allowing 7ER in 5.0IP in his final Aeros' start, May 25...Went 5.0 or more innings in nine of his 10 Double-A starts, including 7.0 innings on four occasions...Made his first appearance with Columbus on May 31, tossing 5.2 scoreless innings...Went 4-1 with a 3.43 ERA (39.1IP, 15ER) in six starts in August.
2011
Tied-2nd in the Eastern League in complete games (2) and tied-4th in starts (25).
2010
Finished 3rd among all Indians farmhands in wins (11)...Tied-2nd in the Carolina League in wins (11) and 4th in ERA
(3.13)...Named to Carolina League All-Star team.
2009
Spent the season with Class-A Lake County, leading the club in wins (9), finishing 2nd in starts (23) and IP (120.2), and 3rd in strikeouts (85).
2008
Began his pro career with Gulf Coast, leading the club in IP (55.0), finishing 2nd in starts (10), and 3rd in strikeouts (38).