Q&A with Buck Farmer
This post comes for our good friend @RedsDaily4. He had the chance to talk with Reds relief pitcher Buck Farmer.
When did you know baseball was your sport? Did you play other sports growing up?
"I knew baseball was the sport I wanted to pursue I think around my junior year of high school when I started getting college commitment letters in the mail. I played many different sports growing up. Swimming, bowling, golf, basketball, soccer. Pretty much tried everything, some stuck and I played them for years and some didn’t. In my opinion, it should be mandatory for kids to play multiple sports. These kids that are sold out on just one sport at the age of 8 are missing out on so much by not being involved in other sports."
You also had some awesome statistics as a hitter in High School. Did you have opportunities in college to hit as well or just pitch?
"I had a few opportunities in college in fall ball but then was quickly moved to just pitching. I like to think I was too good at hitting so they wanted to give other teams fighting chances haha! (completely kidding)"
I actually live North of Atlanta. What was it like pitching for Georgia Tech? Their stadium is cool, being right in the thick of the city. Do you still have a close relationship with Danny Hall? He's been there a long time!
"I loved my time at GT. There were so many life lessons learned there outside of baseball. To answer the question though the stadium is incredible and Danny Hall is awesome. I can’t say enough about him and the program he has established there. It truly is one of a kind."
How would you describe the 2023 season? It seems like you guys had fantastic chemistry as a team and the winning streak had to be incredible. "The 2023 season was one of the most fun I’ve ever had. To describe it in one word would be impossible I would have to have an entire book. That team was incredible and the chemistry we created with one another was that of a tight knit family and I have no doubt that will continue this season."
You put up some of your best stats in 2023. Is there anything in particular that led to you having one of your best seasons as a Red? "My slider hands down was what contributed to my success in 2023. Although I could’ve been better for sure the slider was huge for me."
I assume that led you to wanting to re-sign with the Reds. How excited are you to be back with this team with such a young core? "I am extremely grateful to be back with the Reds this season. Not only for the young core that we have but also the incredible staff. I can honestly say this staff has taught me more about the game in the last 3 seasons than I got to know earlier in my career."
The Bullpen threw a ton of innings last year. As a pitcher out of the pen, how do you prepare yourself to always be ready? And how do you go about things when you might not feel 100%, but you need to go out there and perform anyways?
"We had a saying in the pen... "Chop wood, Carry water" no matter how you feel 100% or 70%, there is always and was always a job to be done. Every guy down there was never afraid to take the ball when called and I think we will stay true to this season as well."
In your Wikipedia picture, a lot of Reds fans are shocked to see you without a beard. How did the beard come about and is it here to stay? "Beard is here always in some way shape or form. Believe it or not early in my career we weren’t allowed to have facial hair so that’s where that pic came from."
Who is the pitcher on staff that has the nastiest stuff in your opinion? "Short answer: We're all nasty. Every guy on this staff has something that makes them great so I can’t say one guy in particular."
It seems like everyone can throw 95+ nowadays. Does that just prove location is more important because guys can square up fastballs if they aren't located well, regardless of how hard they are thrown? "
Everything is location but I will go a step further and say tunneling also is just as important and the ability to make 2 different pitches in the same location look the exact same but with totally different speeds and movements."
If you could give one piece of baseball advice to your younger self, what would it be?
"Do not get complacent or take a day in the big leagues for granted. Work for everything you get."
What are your goals for the season personally and what is your goal as a team this season?
"For myself just do my job 100% the best I can each day. For the team I think we all know what the goal is. We had a chance to make the playoffs and fell a bit short. This season we know what he have/need to do to make the playoffs but not just stop there."
