Kyle Farmer Joins Braves Non-Roster Invitee List for Spring Training
The Braves have added Kyle Farmer to their Non-Roster Invitee (NRI) list for this season's spring training camp. This move comes as a surprise, given Farmer's underwhelming performance in the 2025 season with the Colorado Rockies. Despite his defensive prowess, Farmer's plate numbers were a cause for concern, with a .227/.280/.365 slash line and just 8 home runs over 97 games and 300 plate appearances. This resulted in an fWAR of -1.0, indicating a subpar performance.
Farmer's lack of offensive threat has been a consistent issue throughout his career. Even in his best season with the Cincinnati Reds in 2021, he only managed a 91 wRC+ over 529 plate appearances. However, his defensive skills cannot be overlooked. In 2025, Farmer recorded -5 Outs Above Average (OAA), placing him in the 11th percentile in all of baseball, according to Statcast. His arm strength also left much to be desired.
Despite these recent struggles, the Braves are hoping that a change of scenery will help Farmer regain his form. With his history of good-to-great defensive seasons, including 5 OAA in 2021 and 2024, the team believes he can be a valuable defensive substitute. As spring training approaches, Farmer becomes an intriguing player to watch, offering a blend of defensive excellence and the potential for a bounce-back offensive performance.
