The Diamondbacks announced that infielder Jose Fernandez has been recalled to the active roster. He’ll be making his major league debut as soon as he gets into a game. He will take the spot of first baseman Pavin Smith, who has been placed on the 10-day injured list with left elbow inflammation, retroactive to March 29th.
Fernandez, now 22, was an international signing out of Venezuela in 2021. Since then, he has climbed the minor league ladder. He never really hit much but he stole some bases and played all four infield positions.
He may have taken a step forward offensively last year. He got into 122 Double-A games and stepped to the plate 511 times. His 17 home runs more than doubled his previous high, which was the seven long balls he hit in the prior season. His .272/.321/.454 batting line was still not overwhelming, translating to a 98 wRC+. However, considering his speed and his defensive abilities, it was an intriguing jump.
The Diamondbacks gave him a 40-man roster spot in November, to keep him out of the Rule 5 draft. In December, FanGraphs ranked him as the #42 prospect in the system. Arizona optioned him to the minors a few weeks ago, an unsurprising move since he had no Triple-A experience coming into this year. He does have one Triple-A game under his belt now but will quickly be thrust up to the show. He was perhaps chosen by default, as he was the only position player on the 40-man roster who wasn’t already in the majors or on the injured list.
The Snakes have a regular infield of Nolan Arenado, Geraldo Perdomo, Ketel Marte and Carlos Santana from left to right. With Smith out, they don’t really have a regular designated hitter. Utility guy Ildemaro Vargas is in that spot tonight. Fernandez gives the club a bit of depth all over and could perhaps serve as a pinch runner or defensive substitute. Given that every healthy position player on the 40-man is now on the active roster, another injury in the short-term will require Arizona to add a non-roster player.
Photo courtesy of Allan Henry, Imagn Images
Man, that name gives me memories.
Cocaine is a hell of a drug.
He had everything going for him and he threw it away.
Hopefully this guy ends up not being a murderer.
Yeah once he makes his debut he’ll be the 4th “Jose Fernandez” to play in the MLB, that’s also not including Jose Miguel Fernandez, and Jose Maria Fernandez, so there’s been like 6 lol
Pavin Smith on IL is guarantee every season at this point in his career.
Looking forward to his season and hoping to see him in the game tonight. Home Opener!
Anyone else get a little sad seeing that name?
The families of Jose’s victims probably are.
Such a dumb and hateful perspective to have. All three men were under the influence of alcohol, and all had cocaine in their systems. They all willingly made the decision to get on that boat that night, Jose just happened to be the one driving. None of those men were fit to be operating a boat especially at night, and the fatal crash would’ve undoubtedly still occurred had either of the other men been driving. Three young men getting drunk and doing an extremely stupid thing together does not make any one of them a killer. It is so bitter and hateful to view someone’s entire life’s legacy in an unfairly negative light because of something like that.
@sadmarinersfan Why don’t I see you glazing the drunk driver who ran down Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart back in 2009? The girl who was driving the car Adenhart was in was drunk too after all.
The other 3 dudes didn’t have boats by the way. None of this happens without Jose.
@lfg
You don’t see @mariners glazing the girl driving Nick Adenhart’s car because this article is not about a player named Nick Adenhart. You don’t have to agree with @mariner’s overall conclusion, but bringing up Adenhart is an entirely different situation and kind of a non sequitur beyond “alcohol was involved.”
You can still argue Jose bears more responsibility as the driver, but it’s also fair to point out everyone involved was voluntarily participating in the same high risk behavior. If someone else was driving, that risk is still present.
Necromancy is a crime in the US
Give us Tommy Troy