Stagg Alum McFarland Getting Closer to His Major League Dream

T.J. McFarland had it planned. He'd cruise through his senior year at and have some fun before resuming his pursuit of the baseball dream at the University of Missouri.

In college, he'd get bigger, stronger and more mature in the hopes of developing into a pitcher worthy of being drafted.

But talent and genetics altered that schedule. The left-handed pitcher blossomed during a brilliant senior season at Stagg and forged his way into a professional career that has since lifted him to the Double-A level.

"I don't know what happened," McFarland said recently in Trenton, N.J., where his Akron Aeros were playing. "There was no reason why. I guess I just grew into my body. I threw harder than I've ever thrown and got looked at by major league teams."

Those teams saw a poised pitcher in the Palos Park native, one who hurled the Chargers to a regional title in 2007, despite missing the season's first seven games while serving a suspension. McFarland won seven games and posted an ERA of 0.73, with 103 strikeouts in 67 innings. Opponents batted just .153 against him.

Offensively, McFarland batted .393 with a .618 slugging percentage and 23 RBIs. When the Cleveland Indians selected him in the fourth round of the amateur draft in 2007, he opted for the minor leagues rather than the Mizzou.

"I was always the pitcher who would be able to get to the next level and go to college, but senior year, I went above and beyond expectations, and the major leagues came into play,” McFarland said. “The Indians have been great to me. I'm really glad it happened this way."

Four years later, the 22-year-old is moving swiftly through the organization. He tasted Double-A for one start in 2010 and has spent all but two starts there this season, posting a 3.75 ERA in 112 2/3 innings over 21 starts. He's allowed 114 hits and 37 walks, while striking out 87.

His biggest asset, according to scouts, is his ability to induce ground balls, something he does by relying on a two-seam sinking fastball that reaches 94 mph. He wants hitters to make contact and roll weak grounders to his fielders.

That recipe has gotten him 2.22 ground balls for every fly ball this season—tied for second in Double-A with Bowie's Zach Clark—and he has pitched out of jams by inducing 14 double plays.

"In that aspect, I'm glad about my success," McFarland said. "But it's not over. You have to keep pushing to finish strong. If I do that, then I will have a successful season. I've come a long way and developed a lot this year. I've learned a lot as a pitcher.”

He experienced a lot growing up as a Chicago sports fan, too. McFarland loved the White Sox and especially Mark Buehrle, the veteran pitcher who helped the Sox win the 2005 World Series. McFarland ran up and down the streets celebrating when the Sox captured the title.

Now, he’s chasing the dream of becoming the first Stagg alum to play in the major leagues.

"Every kid pictures himself on a major league mound pitching for his hometown team," said McFarland, who still spends the winters with his parents in Orland Park. "Growing up there was great. I had a lot of good coaches and people who helped me throughout my childhood with baseball and everything else."