Ryan Fernandez #65

Became a fan-favorite with a signature mustache, which started out as a Spring Training joke that he owed into his time in Red Sox Minor League organization...Originally selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 23rd round (700th overall) of the 2018 MLB Draft...Played college baseball at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Fla...Graduated from Tampa's Braulio Alonso High School in which produced first round draft picks RHP Alex Faedo (Tigers) and the late RHP Jose Fernandez (Marlins)...His parents came to the United States from Cuba. Ryan's first language was Spanish as a child, but he admits that he currently does not speak it well...Resides in Tampa, Fla.

2024

NL Rookie Reliever Ranks: ERA (3.51, 5th), Appearances (62, T-5th), Batters Faced (285, 4th), Strikeouts (71, 5th), Holds (12, 4th), GIDP (6, 4th), % Inherited Runners Scored (31.3, 1st), Inherited Runners (32, 1st), Saves (2, T-5th), Games Finished (16, 7th)...Rule 5 Selection from Boston in December 2023 made the Cardinals Opening Day roster, the first to do so since Matt Bowman (2015)...Was one of nine Cardinals to make his MLB debut during the season...Made his Major League debut on April 3 at San Diego, striking out the side in the ninth inning. Became the 38th pitcher in MLB history and the second Cardinal (Braden Looper, March 31, 1998 vs. Dodgers) to strike out three in 1.0 inning pitched in an MLB debut...His 12 holds were most by a Cardinals rookie since Giovanni Gallegos (19 in 2019)...Pitched on back-to-back days nine times, logging a 2.92 ERA and .182 average against...Struck out multiple batters in 23 outings, including a career high four over 2.0 IP on May 19 vs. Red Sox...Made a team-high 21 appearances of four outs or more (15 scoreless), T-sixth among National League relievers...44 of his 62 appearances were scoreless (STL was 26-18)...Retired the first batter faced in 43 of 62 appearances (69.3%)...Struck out the side for all three outs of an appearance three times: April 3 at San Diego, June 13 vs. Pittsburgh and Sept. 4 at Milwaukee...Converted first career save on May 22 vs. Baltimore...Earned his first and only MLB win on July 23 at Pittsburgh...According to Baseball Savant, threw his slider 48.1% of the time (573 of 1,191 pitches), most of any pitch...Ranked among MLB leaders in Run Value (9, T-11th) and Hard-Hit Percentage (23.5, 6th) among pitchers to throw at least 400 sliders.

2023

Pitched at three levels during the season beginning at Salem (High-A) on a rehab assignment, before joining Portland (AA) on April 24 and completing the season at Worcester (AAA)...Posted single-season highs for appearances (42), innings pitched (54.1), strikeouts (67) and home runs allowed (eight)...Made the majority of his appearances in Triple-A with 26-of-42...Was promoted to Portland on April 26 and Worcester on June 18...Ran off a season-high six consecutive scoreless appearances (6/8-25) covering 8.0 innings pitched...Pitched a season-high 2.1 innings vs. Lynchburg (4/22) and struck out a season-high five batters over 2.0 innings at Gwinnett (9/10)...Made 14 appearances of four outs or more, nine of them scoreless.  

Ranked T-second among Red Sox Minor League pitchers with 10 saves (13 opportunities) during the 2022 season... Was named Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Month for June 2022.

2021

Posted a 1.50 ERA in 17 appearances for Low-A Salem...Promoted to High-A Greenville on 8/14.