Junior Fernández

Junior Fabio Fernández (born March 2, 1997) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher in the Washington Nationals organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates.

For the Chilean soccer player, see Junior Fernandes.
Junior Fernández
Fernández with the Indianapolis Indians in 2022
Washington Nationals
Pitcher
Born: (1997-03-02) March 2, 1997
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 11, 2019, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
(through 2022 season)
Win–loss record1–1
Earned run average5.17
Strikeouts47
Teams

Career

St. Louis Cardinals

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

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

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

On August 29, 2023, Fernández signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals organization.[24]

References
  1. "Cardinals Sign Righthander Junior Fernandez - BaseballAmerica.com". July 2, 2014. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
  2. Goold, Derrick (19 November 2015). "Junior Fernandez". Retrieved September 26, 2016.
  3. "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.
  4. "Game Report: Junior Fernandez - BaseballAmerica.com". May 26, 2016. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
  5. "Junior Fernandez Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved September 26, 2016.
  6. "Cardinals name FSL South All-Stars".
  7. "Junior Fernandez Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  8. "Palm Beach Cardinals release 2019 roster".
  9. "Cards purchase Fernandez from Memphis, DFA Mejía, outright Mayers to Memphis". Fox Sports Midwest. August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  10. "Pittsburgh Pirates at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, August 11, 2019". Baseball-Reference.com. August 11, 2019. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  11. "JUNIOR FERNANDEZ, Relief Pitcher". 21 October 2019.
  12. "Cardinals All-Stars Molina, DeJong and four other players reveal positive tests for COVID-19". 4 August 2020.
  13. "Cardinals transfer Fernández to 60-day IL". ballysports.com. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
  14. "Pirates Claim Zack Collins, Junior Fernandez Off Waivers". pittsburghbaseballnow.com. 7 September 2022. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
  15. "Cardinals Activate Jack Flaherty, Designate Junior Fernandez". 5 September 2022.
  16. "Pirates Claim Zack Collins and Junior Fernández Off Waivers". MLB Trade Rumours. September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  17. "Pirates' Junior Fernández: DFA'd by Pittsburgh". cbssports.com. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  18. Martin, Colin. "Yankees claim RHP Junior Fernandez off waivers from Pirates". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  19. "Blue Jays' Junior Fernandez: On the move again". cbssports.com. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  20. "Toronto Blue Jays get Brandon Belt on 1-year, $9.3 million deal". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  21. "Blue Jays' Junior Fernandez: Clears waivers and outrighted". cbssports.com. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  22. Delaney, Brennan. "Hard-throwing right-handed pitcher Junior Fernández has been released by the Blue Jays". Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  23. https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-08-22
  24. "Nationals Sign Junior Fernandez To Minor League Contract". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
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