Junior Fernández
Junior Fernández | |
---|---|
![]() Fernández with the Indianapolis Indians in 2022 | |
Free agent | |
Pitcher | |
Born: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | March 2, 1997|
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
MLB debut | |
August 11, 2019, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |
MLB statistics (through 2022 season) | |
Win–loss record | 1–1 |
Earned run average | 5.17 |
Strikeouts | 47 |
Teams | |
Junior Fabio Fernández (born March 2, 1997) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Career
[edit]St. Louis Cardinals
[edit]Fernández signed with the St. Louis Cardinals as an international free agent in July 2014.[1]
Fernández made his professional debut that year with the Dominican Summer League Cardinals, posting an 0-5 record and a 5.79 ERA over seven games (six starts). He spent 2015 with the Gulf Coast Cardinals, going 3-2 with a 3.88 ERA in 11 games (nine starts) and also appeared in two games with the Palm Beach Cardinals, giving up one run over 6+2⁄3 innings.[2] Fernández started 2016 with the Peoria Chiefs[3][4] and was promoted to the Palm Beach Cardinals in July. He finished the 2016 season with a combined 8-7 record and 4.06 ERA in 24 games (20 starts) between both clubs.[5]
Fernández returned to Palm Beach for the 2017 season where he was named a Florida State League All-Star,[6] posting a 5-3 record with a 3.69 ERA over 16 starts. He began 2018 back with Palm Beach and was promoted to the Springfield Cardinals during the season. He missed over two months of the season due to injury, and was placed on the disabled list twice. Over 24 relief appearances between the two teams, he went 1-0 with a 3.52 ERA.[7]
Fernández began the 2019 season with Palm Beach.[8] He was promoted to Springfield in May, and he earned another promotion to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds in June. In the more than 65 innings he pitched between the three teams for the season, he went 3-2 with a 1.52 ERA, striking out eighty.
On August 6, 2019, the Cardinals selected Fernández's contract and promoted him to the major leagues.[9] He made his debut on August 11 versus the Pittsburgh Pirates, allowing two runs in 2⁄3 of an inning.[10] Over 13 relief appearances with St. Louis, he pitched to a 5.40 ERA.[11]
Fernández began the 2020 season with St. Louis On August 4, 2020, it was announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19, and was subsequently placed on the injured list.[12] He pitched a total of three innings during the season.
The following season, Fernández made 18 appearances for St. Louis, posting a 5.66 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 20+2⁄3 innings pitched. He ended the year on the injured list with a right shoulder strain.[13] In 13 appearances for the Cardinals in 2022, Fernández pitched well, posting a 2.93 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 15+1⁄3 innings of work.[14] On September 5, 2022, Fernández was designated for assignment.[15]
Pittsburgh Pirates
[edit]On September 7, 2022, Fernández was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates.[16] He made three scoreless appearances for Pittsburgh, striking out two in 3+2⁄3 innings of work. On November 15, Fernández was designated for assignment.[17]
Toronto Blue Jays
[edit]On November 18, 2022, Fernández was claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees.[18] He was designated for assignment on December 21, 2022.
Fernández was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays on January 5, 2023.[19] On January 10, Fernández designated for assignment by the Blue Jays following the acquisition of Zach Thompson.[20] On January 17, Fernández cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.[21] In 42 appearances for Triple–A Buffalo, he registered a 5.69 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 49.0 innings of work.[22] Fernández was released by the Blue Jays organization on August 22.[23]
Washington Nationals
[edit]On August 29, 2023, Fernández signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals organization.[24] In 9 appearances for the Triple–A Rochester Red Wings, he recorded a 2.79 ERA with 6 strikeouts in 9+2⁄3 innings of work. Fernández elected free agency following the season on November 6.[25]
Chiba Lotte Marines
[edit]On December 9, 2023, Fernández signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball.[26] On May 11, 2024, he was diagnosed with right distal clavicle lysis, and underwent cleaning surgery that ruled him out for two months.[27] Fernández was released by Lotte on July 24, having only made two scoreless appearances for their farm team.[28]
References
[edit]- ^ "Cardinals Sign Righthander Junior Fernandez - BaseballAmerica.com". July 2, 2014. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
- ^ Goold, Derrick (November 19, 2015). "Junior Fernandez". Retrieved September 26, 2016.
- ^ "St. Louis Cardinals prospect Junior Fernandez throws six shutout innings, strikes out eight for Peoria Chiefs - MiLB.com News - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved September 26, 2016.
- ^ "Game Report: Junior Fernandez - BaseballAmerica.com". May 26, 2016. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
- ^ "Junior Fernandez Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved September 26, 2016.
- ^ "Cardinals name FSL South All-Stars".
- ^ "Junior Fernandez Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
- ^ "Palm Beach Cardinals release 2019 roster".
- ^ "Cards purchase Fernandez from Memphis, DFA Mejía, outright Mayers to Memphis". Fox Sports Midwest. August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
- ^ "Pittsburgh Pirates at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, August 11, 2019". Baseball-Reference.com. August 11, 2019. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
- ^ "JUNIOR FERNANDEZ, Relief Pitcher". October 21, 2019.
- ^ "Cardinals All-Stars Molina, DeJong and four other players reveal positive tests for COVID-19". August 4, 2020.
- ^ "Cardinals transfer Fernández to 60-day IL". ballysports.com. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
- ^ "Pirates Claim Zack Collins, Junior Fernandez Off Waivers". pittsburghbaseballnow.com. September 7, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
- ^ "Cardinals Activate Jack Flaherty, Designate Junior Fernandez". September 5, 2022.
- ^ "Pirates Claim Zack Collins and Junior Fernández Off Waivers". MLB Trade Rumours. September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
- ^ "Pirates' Junior Fernández: DFA'd by Pittsburgh". cbssports.com. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
- ^ Martin, Colin. "Yankees claim RHP Junior Fernandez off waivers from Pirates". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
- ^ "Blue Jays' Junior Fernandez: On the move again". cbssports.com. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
- ^ "Toronto Blue Jays get Brandon Belt on 1-year, $9.3 million deal". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ "Blue Jays' Junior Fernandez: Clears waivers and outrighted". cbssports.com. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
- ^ Delaney, Brennan. "Hard-throwing right-handed pitcher Junior Fernández has been released by the Blue Jays". Retrieved August 24, 2023.
- ^ "Transactions".
- ^ "Nationals Sign Junior Fernandez To Minor League Contract". mlbtraderumors.com. August 29, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ "2023 MiLB Free Agents". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
- ^ https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/12/junior-fernandez-signs-with-npbs-chiba-lotte-marines.html
- ^ "Lotte helper Junior Fernandez cleans the right shoulder chain joint for 2 months until total healing". news.yahoo.co.jp. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
- ^ "Lotte announces new foreign pitchers Dijkstra and Fernandez on Weber". news.yahoo.co.jp. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet