“I know [the minor league life] is not for everyone,” he says. “But it’s the thing I love to do.”

As a regular in Harvard’s middle infield for three years, Farkes made a name for himself as a record-breaker. During a historic stretch at the end of the 2004 season, Farkes belted four home runs in four games against division rival Dartmouth, shattering Harvard’s single-season and career home run marks.

Farkes, a Boston native and lifelong Red Sox fan who grew up in the shadow of Fenway, turned down a chance to join his favorite team after being selected in the 39th round of the 2004 draft, a decision he would later regret. After an injury-plagued junior campaign in which his numbers nevertheless recovered during a white hot April and May, Farkes went undrafted in June. He signed with the Red Sox as a free agent in July.

Immediately, the infielder set out to make up for lost time.

“Whether you’re a free agent, a first-round pick or a 50th-round pick,” Farkes says, “once you get in the system, it’s all the same.”

For him, the choice was pragmatic.

“My main goal was to get experience this summer,” he says. “If I deliberated, waited until next year, I might’ve missed 100 or so at-bats. The wheels would’ve been going too fast. It would’ve been my first spring training—with no pro experience.”

Farkes acknowledged he “was pressing” during a short season at Class A ball this summer. His stint with Lowell—which finished just short of playoff contention in the New York-Penn League—somewhat resembled his junior season at Harvard, in which a slow start was topped with a season-ending hot streak.

Farkes hit two home runs in the season’s final week, but finished with a disappointing .174 average in 132 at-bats.

“You learn a lot about yourself,” he says of unfulfilled expectations. “But [the minors are] not really about stats. It’s more about learning to play the game.”

Despite the rough summer, the Red Sox were impressed with Farkes’ finish.

After working towards his Harvard degree this fall and living with roommate Frank Herrmann in Eliot House, he will report to spring training in March.

FRANK HERRMANN

Frank Herrmann ended his junior year at Harvard with no intention of signing a professional baseball contract. He was excited about pitching this upcoming season, and besides, the 2005 Draft had come and gone long ago.

But in mid-August, the Cleveland Indians organization came calling.