Gordy Farmer helped Arizona State, saw 5 seasons, high-A

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Gordon Farmer 1991 Osceola Astros baseball card

Arizona State's Gordy Farmer came on in relief in this must-win 1988 College World Series game and he proceeded to have perhaps his best outing of the year, The Arizona Republic wrote.

Farmer went 2.2 innings of relief, giving up one hit and striking out three, allowing his team time to get the win against Wichita State and stay alive, The Republic wrote.

"Gordy came in when they still were totally in control of the game and handled it magnificently," coach Jim Brock told The Republic. "That's the best slider, curveball, slurve ... whatever you want to call it, that we've had at ASU."

By that point, Farmer had already been drafted, and he soon signed. He went on to a pro career that saw five seasons. He topped out at high-A, and he's recorded as seeing Taiwan.

Farmer's career began that year in 1988, taken by the Astros in the eighth round of the draft out of Arizona State. Farmer is also credited as Gordon Farmer.

Farmer went to Arizona State out of the College of the Siskiyous. His sophomore season there, he struck out 50 in 45 innings of relief and had a 1.40 ERA. It was enough for him to get a full-ride scholarship from Arizona State, The Redding Record Searchlight wrote.

"Coach told me they wouldn't be giving me a full-ride unless they thought I could come in and help them right off," Farmer told The Record Searchlight then.

He then joined the Astros for 1988. He started at short-season Auburn. He went 8-4 as a starter in 15 starts. He had a 3.60 ERA. 

He then moved to single-A Asheville for 1989. He saw 18 starts there and then seven outings at single-A Osceola. He went 9-2 overall, with a 2.87 ERA.

That June, Farmer pitched Asheville to a victory, his seventh on the year, after getting a big lead early, The Asheville Times wrote.

"I just kept throwing the same way - my change-up and curve were both working well, so I stuck with them a lot," Farmer told The Times of his reaction to the lead. "The big lead helps you relax, but you can't start thinking you have the game won and just throw it in there."

Farmer, however, slowed for 1990. He saw just three starts in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He returned to high-A Osceola for 1991. He saw 17 outings, 16 starts. He went 7-5, with a 3.63 ERA.

He then isn't recorded as playing again until 1995, ending his career with four starts in Taiwan for Wei Chuan.

Gordon Farmer 1991 Osceola Astros baseball card

More: The 1990 Gulf Coast League Astros

1990 Minor League Tally 
Players/Coaches Featured:4,535
Made the Majors:1,433-31.6%
Never Made Majors:3,102-68.4%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:582
10+ Seasons in the Minors:359

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