Noel Fernando Salas (born May 30, 1985) is a Mexican

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Mod ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...

for the

Olmecas de Tabasco The Olmecas de Tabasco (English: Tabasco Olmecs) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico. Their home ballpark is the Estadio Centenario 27 de Febrero. The Olmecas won their only Mexican Leag ...

of the Mexican League. He made his major league debut in 2010. He previously played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

(MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals,

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team ha ...

/ Los Angeles Angels,

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...

, Arizona Diamondbacks and

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...

Early life

Fernando Salas was born and raised in Huatabampo, Mexico. Growing up he never thought about playing in the American Major Leagues, instead being an avid fan of Mexican League baseball. Said Salas: "There is a lot of money to stay in Mexican League. A lot of players in Mexican League have a chance, (at American baseball) but they want a lot of money." Although he watched little if any American baseball—the only game he can remember watching is the

1993 World Series The 1993 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) season. The 90th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff played between the defending World Series champion and American League (AL) champio ...

between the

Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...

and

—he had a dream of proving he was good enough to play in the major leagues.

Professional career

Saltillo Saraperos

Salas first pitched professionally at age 20 when he was signed by the Saltillo Saraperos of the Mexican League. There his pitching coach was Sid Monge a veteran of ten years in American Major League baseball as a player and a coach in the St. Louis Cardinals minor league system. According to Salas, Monge was the reason he is now playing in the major leagues: ''"He pushed me. He said 'You can go to America'. He believed in me."'' Representatives from other major league teams took interest in Salas as well, with scouts from the Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals, Detroit Tigers and the Cardinals watching Salas pitch in the 2006 Mexican League playoffs.

St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals were impressed enough to buy Salas' contract from Saltillo in February 2007. He reported for spring training in Jupiter, Florida, remaining there for the entire season with the Cardinals High-A ball affiliate Palm Beach Cardinals. He advanced through the minor league system, playing for the Double-A Springfield Cardinals in 2008 and Triple-A Memphis Redbirds for the 2009 season. Salas began 2010 in Memphis but was called up to the majors for the first time on May 27, 2010. He made his major league debut the next day, pitching one scoreless inning. In 2011, he replaced Ryan Franklin as the Cardinals' Closer (baseball), closer, earning 24 saves in 68 appearances with a 2.28 ERA. Salas began the 2012 season with St. Louis, but after going 0–3 with a 6.32 ERA in 18 games, he was optioned to Triple-A Memphis Redbirds, Memphis. It was later learned that Salas had been hampered by a kidney stone, and once that medical situation passed he returned to St. Louis later in the season. He finished the 2012 season with a record of 1–4, 60 strikeouts, and a 4.30 ERA.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim / Los Angeles Angels

On November 22, 2013, he was traded along with David Freese to the Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for Peter Bourjos and Randal Grichuk.

New York Mets

Fernando Salas on September 25, 2016 (2) (cropped)

On August 31, the Angels traded Salas to the

for minor league pitcher Erik Manoah. He debuted for the club on September 1, pitching a scoreless inning against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field. On February 15, 2017, Salas signed a one-year contract with the Mets. On his thirty-second birthday, Salas recorded his first Major League hit off of Carlos Torres (pitcher), Carlos Torres of the Milwaukee Brewers at Citi Field. He was designated for assignment on August 11, 2017. He was released by the Mets on August 16, 2017.

Second stint with the Los Angeles Angels

On August 19, 2017, Salas signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels.

Arizona Diamondbacks

On January 22, 2018, Salas signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 44 games for Arizona, he was 4–4 with a 4.50 ERA in 40 innings. On July 6, 2018, Salas was designated for assignment. He was released on July 9, 2018.

Atlanta Braves

On July 16, 2018, Salas signed a minor league deal with the Atlanta Braves. He was released on August 11, 2018.

Acereros de Monclova

On March 6, 2019, Salas signed with the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League.

Philadelphia Phillies

On June 7, 2019, Salas signed a minor league deal with the

and was assigned to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. On June 24, his contract was selected by the Phillies. He was designated for assignment on June 28 after appearing in just one game. Salas has his contract selected by the Phillies on July 18, 2019. He was once again designated for assignment on July 21, after the signing of Drew Smyly, and outrighted on July 23. In 2019 with the Class AAA Lehigh Valley IronPigs he was 1–1 with a 4.63 ERA in 18 relief appearances (23.1 innings), and with the Phillies he pitched 2.2 innings in which he gave up two runs. He elected free agency on October 1. After the 2019 season, he played for Naranjeros de Hermosillo of the Mexican Pacific League(LVMP).

Acereros de Monclova (second stint)

On February 28, 2020, Salas signed with the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League. In 2020, he did not play a game because of the cancellation of the Mexican League season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After the 2020 season, he played for Naranjeros of the LVMP. He has also played for Mexico in the 2021 Caribbean Series.

Olmecas de Tabasco

On March 30, 2021, Salas was traded to the

of the Mexican League.

Personal life

Salas and his girlfriend, Daniela, are parents of a son, Fernando, born during 2012 spring training. He is being raised in Mexico. It is not a situation to Salas' liking: "Other Latin players have a lot of family in America. For me, it didn't happen. It's a little difficult because my family doesn't know any English. But they know it's work. They know it's a profession." and "I love the opportunity. I want to do everything I can to stay here."

Awards and honors

*2006 Mexican League mid-season All-Star *2008 Texas League mid-season Al-Star *2008 Futures Game selection *2008 Texas League post-season All-Star *2008 ''Baseball America'' Double-A All-Star *2010 PCL Pitcher of the Week *2010 PCL mid-season All-Star *2010 MLB.com Organization All-Star *2011 World Series champion

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Salas, Fernando 1985 births Living people Acereros de Monclova players Arizona Diamondbacks players Baseball players from Sonora Gulf Coast Cardinals players Gwinnett Stripers players Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino players Lehigh Valley IronPigs players Los Angeles Angels players Major League Baseball pitchers Major League Baseball players from Mexico Memphis Redbirds players Mexican expatriate baseball players in the United States Mexican League baseball pitchers Naranjeros de Hermosillo players National baseball team players New York Mets players Olmecas de Tabasco players Palm Beach Cardinals players People from Huatabampo Philadelphia Phillies players Salt Lake Bees players Saraperos de Saltillo players Springfield Cardinals players St. Louis Cardinals players Venados de Mazatlán players 2013 World Baseball Classic players 2017 World Baseball Classic players 2019 WBSC Premier12 players Baseball players at the 2020 Summer Olympics Olympic baseball players of Mexico