José Fernández (pitcher, born 1993)


José Manuel Fernández is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher in the Atlanta Braves organization. He has played in Major League Baseball for the Toronto Blue Jays and Detroit Tigers.

Professional career

Toronto Blue Jays

Fernández signed as an international free agent with the Toronto Blue Jays on January 5, 2012, and was assigned to the Dominican Summer League Blue Jays in July. In nine games, he posted a 2–0 win–loss record, 1.52 earned run average, and 34 strikeouts in 29 innings pitched. In 2013, Fernández made 16 relief appearances for the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Blue Jays, and went 1–0 with a 2.70 ERA and 13 strikeouts. He played the entire 2014 season with the Short Season-A Vancouver Canadians, going 1–1 with a 4.01 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 24 innings. Fernández continued to rise through the Blue Jays minor league system, spending all of 2015 with the Class-A Lansing Lugnuts. In 35 games, he pitched to a 1–2 record, 3.31 ERA, and 41 strikeouts in 51 innings. Fernández struggled with his command in 2016 while with the Advanced-A Dunedin Blue Jays, walking 34 batters in 43 innings. He ended the year with a 1–1 record, 4.12 ERA, and 41 strikeouts. In the offseason, Fernández appeared in 13 games for the Estrellas de Oriente of the Dominican Winter League, and posted a 2.70 ERA and 13 strikeouts.
Fernández was assigned to the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats for the 2017 season, and pitched to a 1–2 record, 5.44 ERA, and 48 strikeouts in 46 innings. He returned to the Estrellas de Oriente in the offseason, appearing in 12 games. Heading into the 2018 season, Fernández was invited to spring training by the Blue Jays. He was assigned to New Hampshire to begin the year, and was promoted to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons in late June. In 60 combined innings, Fernández went 4–3 with a 2.97 ERA and 65 strikeouts.
Fernández was called up to the majors for the first time on September 1, 2018 as a September call-up. During the 2018 season, he allowed seven runs on 10 hits over 10 innings in 13 appearances while walking four and striking out six.

Detroit Tigers

Fernández was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Tigers on November 2, 2018. On July 3, 2019, he was designated for assignment by the Tigers. He became a minor league free agent on November 7, 2019.

Atlanta Braves

On February 24, 2020, Fernandez signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves.