Junior Fabio Fernández (born March 2, 1997) is a Dominican professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...

in the

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...

organization. He has previously played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB) for the

St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Centra ...

and

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central ...

Career

St. Louis Cardinals

Fernández signed with the

as an international free agent in July 2014. Fernández made his professional debut that year with the

Dominican Summer League Cardinals The Dominican Summer League Cardinals or DSL Cardinals are a rookie league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals based in the Dominican Republic. The team plays in the Boca Chica South division of the Dominican Summer League. History The team fir ...

, posting an 0-5 record and a 5.79 ERA over seven games (six starts). He spent 2015 with the rookie-level

Gulf Coast League Cardinals The Florida Complex League Cardinals or FCL Cardinals are a rookie league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, competing in the Florida Complex League of Minor League Baseball. Prior to 2021, the team was known as the Gulf Coast League 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 The Palm Beach Cardinals are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. They are located in the town of Jupiter in Palm Beach County, Florida, and play their home games at Roge ...

, giving up one run over innings. Fernández started 2016 with the

Peoria Chiefs The Peoria Chiefs are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. The team was established in 1983 as the Peoria Suns. They are located in Peoria, Illinois, and are named for the Pe ...

and was promoted to the

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. Fernández returned to Palm Beach for the 2017 season where he was named a

Florida State League The Florida State League (FSL) is a Minor League Baseball league based in the state of Florida. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 until its demotion to Single-A following ...

All-Star, 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 The Springfield Cardinals are a Minor League Baseball team based in Springfield, Missouri. They are members of the Texas League's North Division and serve as the Double-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. The Springfield Cardinals began pl ...

during the season. He missed over two months of the season due to injury, and was placed on the

disabled list In Major League Baseball (MLB), the injured list (IL) is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players. Before the 2019 Major League Baseball season, 2019 season, it was known as the disabl ...

twice. Over 24 relief appearances between the two teams, he went 1-0 with a 3.52 ERA. Fernández began the 2019 season with Palm Beach. He was promoted to Springfield in May, and he earned another promotion to the Triple-A

Memphis Redbirds The Memphis Redbirds are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. They are located in Memphis, Tennessee, and are named for their Major League Baseball affiliate. The Redbird ...

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. He made his debut on August 11 versus the

, allowing two runs in of an inning. Over 13 relief appearances with St. Louis, he pitched to a 5.40 ERA. Fernández began the 2020 season with St. Louis. On August 4, 2020, it was announced that he had tested positive for

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...

, and was subsequently placed on the injured list. 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 innings pitched. He ended the year on the injured list with a right shoulder strain. In 13 appearances for the Cardinals in 2022, Fernández pitched well, posting a 2.93 ERA with 12 strikeouts in innings of work. On September 5, 2022, Fernández was designated for assignment.

Pittsburgh Pirates

On September 7, 2022, Fernández was claimed off waivers by the

. He made three scoreless appearances for Pittsburgh, striking out two in innings of work. On November 15, Fernández was designated for assignment.

Toronto Blue Jays

On November 18, 2022, Fernández was claimed off waivers by the

New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...

. He was designated for assignment on December 21, 2022. Fernández was claimed off waivers by 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) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...

on January 5, 2023. On January 10, Fernández designated for assignment by the Blue Jays following the acquisition of Zach Thompson. On January 17, Fernández cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A

Buffalo Bisons The Buffalo Bisons (known colloquially as the Herd) are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Located in Buffalo, New York, the team plays their home games at Sahlen Fiel ...

. In 42 appearances for Triple–A Buffalo, he registered a 5.69 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 49.0 innings of work. Fernández was released by the Blue Jays organization on August 22.

Washington Nationals

On August 29, 2023, Fernández signed a minor league contract with the

Washington Nationals The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. They play their home games at Na ...

organization. In 9 appearances for the Triple–A

Rochester Red Wings The Rochester Red Wings are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. They are located in Rochester, New York, and play their home games at Innovative Fie ...

, he recorded a 2.79 ERA with 6 strikeouts in innings of work. Fernández elected free agency following the season on November 6.

Chiba Lotte Marines

On December 9, 2023, Fernández signed with the

Chiba Lotte Marines The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based in Chiba, Chiba, Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, in the Kantō region, and owned by Lotte Holdings, Lotte Holdings Co., Ltd. The Marines were a founding member of the Pacific Le ...

Nippon Professional Baseball is a professional baseball league and the highest level of baseball in Japan. Locally, it is often called , meaning simply ''Professional Baseball''; outside of Japan, NPB is often referred to as "Japanese baseball". The roots of the league ...

. On May 11, 2024, he was diagnosed with right distal

clavicle The clavicle, collarbone, or keybone is a slender, S-shaped long bone approximately long that serves as a strut between the scapula, shoulder blade and the sternum (breastbone). There are two clavicles, one on each side of the body. The clavic ...

lysis Lysis ( ; from Greek 'loosening') is the breaking down of the membrane of a cell, often by viral, enzymic, or osmotic (that is, "lytic" ) mechanisms that compromise its integrity. A fluid containing the contents of lysed cells is called a ...

, and underwent cleaning surgery that ruled him out for two months. Fernández was released by Chiba Lotte on July 24, having only made two scoreless appearances for their farm team.

Kansas City Royals

On December 20, 2024, Fernández signed a minor league contract with the

Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...

. In 31 appearances for the Triple-A

Omaha Storm Chasers The Omaha Storm Chasers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. They are located in Papillion, Nebraska, a suburb southwest of Omaha, Nebraska, Omah ...

, he posted a 2-5 record and 4.93 ERA with 53 strikeouts and two saves across innings pitched. Fernández was released by the Royals organization on July 1, 2025.

New York Mets

On July 8, 2025, Fernández signed a minor league contract with the

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fernández, Junior 1997 births Living people Águilas Cibaeñas players Baseball players from Santo Domingo Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in Japan Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in the United States Dominican Summer League Cardinals players Gulf Coast Cardinals players Indianapolis Indians players Major League Baseball pitchers Major League Baseball players from the Dominican Republic 21st-century Dominican Republic sportsmen Memphis Redbirds players Omaha Storm Chasers players Palm Beach Cardinals players Peoria Chiefs players Pittsburgh Pirates players Rochester Red Wings players Springfield Cardinals players St. Louis Cardinals players