| Joshua Fuentes | |
| Team: | Leones de Yucatán |
| Number: | 12 |
| Position: | First baseman |
| Birth Date: | 19 February 1993 |
| Birth Place: | Rancho Santa Margarita, California, U.S. |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | April 6 |
| Debutyear: | 2019 |
| Debutteam: | Colorado Rockies |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Statyear: | 2021 season |
| Stat1label: | Batting average |
| Stat1value: | .243 |
| Stat2label: | Home runs |
| Stat2value: | 12 |
| Stat3label: | Runs batted in |
| Stat3value: | 57 |
| Teams: |
|
Joshua Luis Fuentes (born February 19, 1993) is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Leones de Yucatán of the Mexican League. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies. He made his MLB debut in 2019.
Fuentes attended Trabuco Hills High School in Mission Viejo, California and played college baseball at Saddleback College and Missouri Baptist University. He was signed by the Colorado Rockies as an undrafted free agent in 2014.[1]
Fuentes made his professional debut in 2014 with the Tri-City Dust Devils and spent the whole season there, batting .260 with one home run and 16 RBIs in 41 games. He played 2015 with the Asheville Tourists, compiling a .252 batting average with six home runs and 42 RBIs in 93 games, and 2016 with Asheville and Modesto Nuts where he slashed a combined .307/.366/.505 with 13 home runs and 64 RBIs in 105 total games between both teams. He played 2017 with the Hartford Yard Goats where he batted .307 with 15 home runs, 72 RBIs, and a .869 OPS in 122 games[2] and started 2018 with the Albuquerque Isotopes.[3] [4]
The Rockies added Fuentes to their 40-man roster after the 2018 season.[5] He was promoted to the major leagues on April 6, 2019,[6] and made his major league debut that night. He recorded a pinch-hit single versus Yimi García in his first Major League at-bat. During the 2020 season Fuentes took over the first base job during the season and his offensive production was among the best on the team. In 30 games, he hit .306 with two home runs and 17 RBI.
After a slow start to 2021 Fuentes was named NL Player of the Week on May 17, batting .500 for the week and tying a Rockies record for most consecutive games with an RBI.[7] During the middle of the season, Fuentes hit a rough patch in which he ended up losing his starting role on the team and ultimately was demoted to Triple–A. He ended the season hitting .225 with seven home runs and 33 RBI in 95 games. On October 21, Fuentes was outrighted off of the 40-man roster.[8] He elected free agency on November 7, 2021.
On March 26, 2022, Fuentes signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.[9] He was released on May 23, 2022.
On June 14, 2022, Fuentes signed with the Leones de Yucatán of the Mexican League. In 41 games, he slashed .299/.364/.576 with 10 home runs and 27 RBI.[10] Fuentes won the Mexican League Championship with the Leones in 2022.[11]
On December 23, 2022, Fuentes signed a minor league deal with the Atlanta Braves. [12] He spent the majority of the 2023 season with the Triple–A Gwinnett Stripers, also playing in 4 games for the Double–A Mississippi Braves. In 65 games for Gwinnett, Fuentes batted .228/.300/.339 with 5 home runs and 29 RBI. He elected free agency following the season on November 6.[13]
On February 13, 2024, Fuentes signed with the Leones de Yucatán of the Mexican League.[14]
Fuentes is of Cuban descent.[15] His cousin, Nolan Arenado, plays for the Cardinals.[16]