Buckeyes’ Farmer out rest of year due to leukemia

Published 1:51 am Friday, May 2, 2014

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio State freshman pitcher Zach Farmer will miss the rest of the season while being treated for leukemia.

Farmer, a left-hander with a 6-4 record and a 3.28 ERA, has been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. He had been feeling sick for about a week when he went to see Ohio State’s team doctor Monday. Originally thought to have mononucleosis, a blood draw confirmed he had abnormalities in his blood counts.

Members of the team were informed Tuesday before a trip to Louisville.

Email newsletter signup

Farmer, from Piketon, Ohio, will begin treatments Monday at The James Cancer Hospital at Ohio State.

Buckeyes coach Greg Beals, said, “He is in good spirits in the company of family, friends and teammates.”

Farmer had overtures from major league baseball in 2013 but elected to honor his Ohio State commitment.