Northeast Mississippi Community College Athletics

Brandon Farley was the second member of Northeast Mississippi Community College's 2009 baseball team that was selected in the Major League Baseball (MLB) first-year player draft.

Farley was the 1,018th overall pick in the 33rd round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the San Francisco Giants following two successful seasons with the Tigers and another pair of campaigns at Arkansas State University.

He became just the fourth former Northeast standout to be drafted by a MLB affiliate. Farley followed in the footsteps of former teammate Phillip Chapman, who was taken by the Minnesota Twins one year earlier after concluding his collegiate career at the University of Memphis (Tenn.).

Farley helped the Tigers set a new program record for most victories in a single year during his freshman campaign with 33. Northeast also hosted a postseason series for the first time since 1992 after finishing as the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) North Division runner-up.

The Cookeville, Tenn., native made himself right at home during his inaugural games in the City of Hospitality. He had four hits, including two doubles, and a sacrifice fly in the Tigers' sweep of Arkansas Baptist College on the opening day of the 2009 season.

Farley's initial appearance on the mound at Northeast went just as well. He was credited with the win as the Tigers pulled away late in harsh weather conditions to take an 11-5 triumph at Northwest-Shoals (Ala.) Community College.

His luck in the neighboring Yellowhammer State remained good during his second outing for Northeast. Farley once again was the pitcher of record in a tightly contested 3-2 victory at Calhoun (Ala.) Community College.

He played a pivotal role for the Tigers during the Warhawks' return trip to Harold T. White Field as well. Farley connected on one of his three total home runs on the season to help Northeast complete a home sweep and win the yearly series from Calhoun.

The 6-2, 200-pounder wrapped up the regular season by capturing his fifth victory in a 15-6 decision at Coahoma Community College. That tied him for the most individual wins alongside Brad Luna and Jon Andy Scott, who is currently an assistant coach for the Tigers.

Northeast lost to Jones College in its state playoff series, but Farley tried to keep his squad alive. He started a come-from-behind attempt by the Tigers in the seventh inning of game two, which was moved to Jackson's Smith-Wills Stadium due to inclement weather on the Booneville campus, with a double and later scored on a triple from Jake Mills.

Farley wielded a solid 3.32 earned run average (ERA) in 43.1 innings of work for Northeast as a freshman with only 11 walks allowed. He batted .340 offensively with 32 hits, including 13 for extra bases, with 22 RBIs.

Those numbers got even better during Farley's sophomore year. His strikeout total nearly tripled from 24 to a team-best 67 punchouts while becoming the ace of the Tigers' staff with a 2.79 ERA in 67.2 logged innings.

Farley's on-base percentage improved to .430 on the strength of 39 hits plus 16 free passes. He compiled a .351 batting average with six doubles, two triples, two home runs, 28 runs scored and 22 RBIs.

He opened his final campaign at Northeast with a statement victory on the hill versus Panola (Texas) College, which entered the matchup ranked No. 19 in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I poll. Farley had nine strikeouts and allowed only five hits in the complete game shutout of the Ponies at the Wes Cliburn Memorial Tournament in Raymond.

Farley pieced together a pair of great performances against East Mississippi Community College that year. He had a four-hit day, including a double and triple, in the nightcap at Scooba and then conceded just four hits and two runs at home to finish a four-game season sweep of the Lions.

He ended his tenure with the Tigers in the 2010 state playoffs at Hinds Community College. Farley, who garnered MACJC All-State honors for his efforts throughout the campaign, had RBI singles during both postseason contests.

Farley moved from a starting role to the bullpen for the remainder of his career on the diamond. He topped all relievers and placed fourth overall among Arkansas State's hurlers with 40 strikeouts during his senior season.

The right-handed pitcher averaged over a strikeout an inning during his two-year stint in Jonesboro, Ark., with 62 punchouts in 59.1 frames. He was a key piece in the Red Wolves' 2012 campaign that featured 34 wins and a berth to the Sun Belt Conference (SBC) Tournament championship game.

Farley was recognized as part of the InsidePitching.com National Pitching Staff of the Week following Arkansas State's SBC sweep of the University of South Alabama. He worked the eighth inning of the first two matchups of the series and did not give up a run.

He was the winning pitcher three times with the Red Wolves, including twice against Western Kentucky University. Farley also picked up saves versus Florida Atlantic University and Southern Illinois University as a junior and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock during his senior campaign.

Farley was assigned to San Francisco's rookie level affiliate in Scottsdale, Ariz., in the summer of 2012 after graduating from Arkansas State. He went 2-1 during the short season Arizona League with a sensational 1.19 ERA in 23 outings.

The Cookeville (Tenn.) High School graduate was transferred to the Class A level in Augusta, Ga., following spring training in 2013. He lifted the GreenJackets to the South Atlantic League (SAL) Southern Division championship with a 4-4 record in 28 appearances with 39 strikeouts compared to 23 walks.

Farley retired from professional baseball after splitting time between Arizona and Augusta in 2014. He was 1-1 with four saves and a 4.45 ERA in 22 games during his last year as a member of the Giants organization.

His final Minor League Baseball (MiLB) statistics include a 7-6 overall record with five saves in 108.2 frames of action. Farley was used as a reliever in 73 contests with 90 strikeouts, 40 walks and a stellar walks plus hits per innings pitched (WHIP) of 1.44.