Eric Farris


Eric Michael-Jay Farris is the Filipino American hitting coach of the West Virginia Power, and a former professional baseball second baseman and left fielder. He played in Major League Baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Personal life

Farris is the only son of Elizabeth and Darryl Farris. He has two sisters, Jeannette and Jessica.

Baseball career

High School

Farris went to high school at Hamilton High School in Chandler, Arizona. With the Huskies, he hit.469 with 41 RBI and 50 runs scored, as well as 14 stolen bases, to lead them to back-to-back state titles. He was a Collegiate Baseball/TPX All-American and was named Arizona Player of the Year by the East Valley Tribune and the ABCA. He was selected in the 42nd round, 1269th overall in the 2004 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves, but chose to play college with the Loyola Marymount Lions.

College

In 2005, he was slated to be their starting shortstop, but broke his hamate bone just before the season and missed six weeks. After returning in March at second base, he was second on the team in batting average, leading to a second-team All-WCC selection. In 2006, he led the team in numerous categories, with an All-WCC honorable mention. After the 2006 season, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League. 2007 was his best year as a Lion, leading the team in average, stolen bases, runs, hits, and total bases. He was a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award. He ended his career with the fourth most stolen bases in team history, despite only three seasons there.

Milwaukee Brewers

He was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 4th round, 131st overall, of the 2007 MLB Draft. In 2007, he made his professional debut for their Rookie League Helena Brewers. Farris played all of the 2008 season with the Class A West Virginia Power and all of the 2009 season with the Class A-Advanced Brevard County Manatees. Though rehabbing with the Rookie Arizona League Brewers early in the 2010 campaign, Farris played the rest of the 2010 season with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. He hit.256 in 98 games for Nashville before his first call-up.
On July 28, 2011, Farris was called up to the Brewers after they placed Rickie Weeks on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left ankle. He made his debut that day, going 0-1 in a pinch-hit appearance, not staying in the game. He was optioned back to Nashville the following day.

Seattle Mariners

The Seattle Mariners selected Farris in the Triple-A phase of the 2012 Rule 5 draft.

Minnesota Twins

Farris signed a minor league deal with the Minnesota Twins on January 6, 2014. He elected free agency on November 6, 2015.

Somerset Patriots

On February 25, 2016 Farris was confirmed to have signed with the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball which is an Indy League on the East Coast of the USA and Texas He became a free agent after the 2016 season.

West Virginia Power; hitting coach

In 2019 he became the hitting coach of the West Virginia Power.

Awards