Joshua Luis Fuentes (born February 19, 1993) is an
American 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 leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world.
Modern professional ...
first baseman
A first baseman, abbreviated 1B, is the player on a baseball or softball team who fields the area nearest first base, the first of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run. The first baseman is responsible for the majori ...
in the
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The Braves were founded in Bos ...
organization. He has 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
Colorado Rockies. He made his MLB debut in 2019.
Amateur career
Fuentes attended
Trabuco Hills High School
Trabuco Hills High School is a high school in Mission Viejo, California, United States. It is in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District.
Awards
THHS has received:
*2002 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.
Demographics
The demogra ...
in
Mission Viejo, California and played
college baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. In comparison to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a smaller role in developing professional p ...
at
Saddleback College
Saddleback College (Saddleback) is a public community college in Mission Viejo, California. It is part of the California Community College system and awards over 300 associate degrees, academic certificates, and occupational skills awards in 1 ...
and
Missouri Baptist University. He was signed by the
Colorado Rockies as an
undrafted free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...
in 2014.
Professional career
Fuentes made his professional debut in 2014 with the
Tri-City Dust Devils
The Tri-City Dust Devils are a Minor League Baseball team in the northwest United States, based in Pasco, Washington. The Dust Devils are members of the Northwest League and are affiliated with the Los Angeles Angels. Tri-City plays their home ga ...
and spent the whole season there, batting .260 with one home run and 16 RBIs in 41 games. He played 2015 with the
Asheville Tourists
The Asheville Tourists are a Minor League Baseball team of the South Atlantic League and the High-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Asheville, North Carolina.
Asheville teams have played under the Tourists moniker in differe ...
, compiling a .252 batting average with six home runs and 42 RBIs in 93 games, and 2016 with Asheville and
Modesto Nuts
The Modesto Nuts are a Minor League Baseball team of the California League and the Single-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. They are located in Modesto, California, and are named for the several types of nuts grown in the region. They play the ...
where he slashed a combined .307/.366/.505 with 13 home runs and 64 RBIs in 105 total games between both teams. He played 2017 with the
Hartford Yard Goats
The Hartford Yard Goats are a Minor League Baseball team based in Hartford, Connecticut. The Yard Goats, which play in the Eastern League, are the Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. The team was founded in 2016 when the New Britain ...
where he batted .307 with 15 home runs, 72 RBIs, and a .869 OPS in 122 games and started 2018 with the
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. They play home games at Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at an e ...
.
Colorado Rockies
The Rockies added Fuentes to their 40-man roster after the 2018 season. He was promoted to the major leagues on April 6, 2019, and made his major league debut that night. He recorded a pinch-hit single versus
Yimi García in his first Major League at-bat. During the 2020 season Fuentes took over the first base job during the season and his offensive production was among the best on the team. In 30 games, he hit .306 with two home runs and 17 RBI.
After a slow start to 2021 Fuentes was named NL Player of the Week on May 17, batting .500 for the week and tying a Rockies record for most consecutive games with an RBI. During the middle of the season, Fuentes hit a rough patch in which he ended up losing his starting role on the team and ultimately was demoted to AAA. He ended the season hitting .225 with seven home runs and 33 RBI in 95 games. On October 21, Fuentes was outrighted off of the 40-man roster. He elected free agency on November 7, 2021.
Toronto Blue Jays
On March 26, 2022, Fuentes signed a minor league contract with 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 ...
. He was released on May 23, 2022.
Leones de Yucatán
On June 14, 2022, Fuentes signed with the
Leones de Yucatán
The Leones de Yucatán (English: Yucatán Lions) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League. The team play its home games at Parque Kukulcán Alamo in Mérida, Yucatán. The Leones have won the Mexican League title five times in , , , ...
of the
Mexican League
The Mexican League (, ) is a professional baseball league based in Mexico and the oldest running professional league in the country.
The league has 18 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games each season. Five te ...
in 41 games he slashed .299/.364/.576 with 10 home runs and 27 RBIs.
Atlanta Braves
On December 23, 2022, Fuentes signed a minor league deal with the
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The Braves were founded in Bos ...
.
Personal life
His cousin,
Nolan Arenado
Nolan James Arenado (; born April 16, 1991) is an American professional baseball third baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). Arenado is widely recognized as an elite third baseman, both offensively and defensively. ...
, plays for the Cardinals.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fuentes, Josh
1993 births
Living people
People from Rancho Cucamonga, California
Baseball players from California
Major League Baseball infielders
Colorado Rockies players
Saddleback Gauchos baseball players
Missouri Baptist Spartans baseball players
Tri-City Dust Devils players
Asheville Tourists players
Modesto Nuts players
Hartford Yard Goats players
Tomateros de Culiacán players
American expatriate baseball players in Mexico
Albuquerque Isotopes players
Salt River Rafters players
Leones de Yucatán players
Mankato MoonDogs players
Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players