Fernando Baez

Fernando Baez Aybar

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 190 lb.

• Born February 1, 1992 in Palenque Dominican Republic

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Fernando Baez began his professional career in 2010. He was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as a non-drafted free agent on November 30, 2009.

He began his career as a first baseman and catcher, playing those positions for the DSL Cardinals in 2010 and 2011. After struggling at the dish for two years, he converted to pitching and achieved success. With the DSL Cardinals in 2012, he was 5-1 with a 1.14 ERA in 14 appearances, striking out 50 batters in 39 1/3 innings. He was 1-0 with a 0.82 ERA in 26 games for the Johnson City Cardinals in 2013, K-ing 47 and allowing only 15 hits in 33 frames. He converted to starting pitching in 2014, going 2-2 with a 3.94 ERA in 13 games (nine starts) for the State College Spikes. He averaged more than a strikeout per inning. He began 2015 with the Peoria Chiefs, going 2-3 with a 6.69 ERA.

The Tampa Bay Rays took him in the AAA portion of the 2015 Rule V Draft. He was 3-1 with two saves and a 3.00 ERA for the Bowling Green Hot Rods, allowing only 21 hits in 42 innings while whiffing 70. He split '17 between the Charlotte Stone Crabs (2-2, 2.35 in 10 G; 27 K in 15 1/3 IP) and Montgomery Biscuits (1-4, 4.42 in 22 G; 48 K but 38 BB in 36 2/3 IP). He spent 2018 with the indy San Rafael Pacifics, going 8-3 with a 4.09 ERA and 101 K in 72 2/3 IP (43 H, 60 BB). He tied for 4th in the Pacific Association in victories, was second in whiffs (39 behind Jared Koenig) and was second in walks.

Baez joined the Spanish national team for the 2018 Super6. In his debut, he relieved Jorge Balboa in the 8th with a 9-1 lead. He retired Alex Schmidt, got Lukas Jahn on a pop-up, walked Maurice Wilhelm and Max Boldt but recovered to strike out Simon Gühring. Carlos Sierra took over in the 9th. His other game, he relieved Andrés Pérez with a 10-10 tie in the 8th against the Netherlands, one on and one out. He got Randolph Oduber on a fly but Yurendell de Caster hit what would be the game-winning homer. He then got Dudley Leonora to end it.

Moving to T&A San Marino, he was 1-0 with three saves and a 1.23 ERA in the 2019 Serie A1, whiffing 33 in 14 2/3 innings. He tied for third in the loop in saves. He struck out 11 in 5 1/3 IP in the 2019 Italian Series (second to Raúl Rivero in K) but gave up the game-losing homer to Bologna's Andy Paz in the last game as San Marino was swept. Suiting up for Spain in the 2019 European Championship, he had allowed four runs (three earned) in three innings entering the 3rd/4th place game. In that contest, versus Israel, he relieved Leslie Nacar in the 5th with a 12-8 lead in a slugfest. He allowed a Benny Wanger homer then retired Zach Penprase and Jeremy Wolf. He hit Assaf Lowengart but Tal Erel flew out. In the 6th, Ty Kelly grounded out and Blake Gailen homered to cut it to 12-10. He got Nick Rickles to pop up, walked Robb Paller and struck out Wanger. Antonio Noguera took over in the 7th and closed out Spain's victory. Spain advanced to the 2019 Europe/Africa Olympic Qualifier. He closed out Ricardo Hernández's opening win over South Africa, going 1-2-3 against Hein Robb, Dayle Feldtman (K) and Kyron Bibis. His other outing, he saved Daniel Álvarez's 4-3 win over Italy when he struck out Erick Epifano, walked Drew Maggi and recovered to get Alessandro Vaglio and former major leaguer Chris Colabello. It would be his last game of the event as he was suspended for a post-game brawl, along with several other players.

Fernando was 2-1 with two saves and a 2.00 ERA in the 2020 Serie A1; in a COVID-19-shortened season, he tied for third in saves, one behind Alex Bassani and Dimitri Kourtis. He was 2-0 with a 1.56 ERA in the 2020 Italian Series, including teaming with Kourtis in a no-hitter, but San Marino fell to Bologna in seven. Only Markus Solbach had a lower ERA or opponent average in the Series, while he tied Nico Garbella and Kourtis for 4th in K and led in wins. He also spent part of the year with Spain's Astros Valencia (3 Sv, 1-0, 2 UER, 0 ER, 5 H, 4 BB, 26 K in 13 1/3 IP).

He was excellent for San Marino in 2021 (0 R in 17 2/3 IP; 5 H, 6 BB, 32 K). San Marino won the 2021 Italian Series to avenge their losses to Bologna. Back with Spain for the 2021 European Championship, he allowed four hits, three walks and one unearned run in 5 1/3 IP, striking out two. In the Bronze Medal Game, though, he took over for Balboa in the 7th with the bases loaded, two outs and a scoreless tie and walked Alessandro Deotto to force in the winner then threw a wild pitch for the last run. He tied for the event lead with four appearances (even with Robyn Clara, Rhiner Cruz, Franklin De La Rosa, Wendell Floranus, Kevin Kelly, Fred Mosier and Bubby Rossman).

Baez walked six in five innings in the 2022 European Champions Cup but struck out ten and allowed only one run. He got the win over the Bonn Capitals. He tied Juan Jaime and Zach Dodson for second in whiffs, behind Jared Mortensen. He was 5-2 with two saves and a 2.23 ERA in the 2022 Serie A1 with 52 K in 36 1/3 IP. San Marino repeated, winning the 2022 Italian Series, with he and Kourtis combining on another gem, this time a one-hitter. In the 2022 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers, he allowed six hits and three runs (two earned) in three innings.