Rey Fuentes Explained

Reymond Fuentes
Position:Outfielder
Birth Date:12 February 1991
Birth Place:Orlando, Florida, U.S.
Bats:Left
Throws:Left
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:August 26
Debutyear:2013
Debutteam:San Diego Padres
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:September 30
Finalyear:2017
Finalteam:Arizona Diamondbacks
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.238
Stat2label:Home runs
Stat2value:3
Stat3label:Runs batted in
Stat3value:15
Teams:
Show-Medals:no

Reymond Louis Fuentes (born February 12, 1991) is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball outfielder. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, Kansas City Royals and Arizona Diamondbacks.

Early life

Fuentes attended Fernando Callejo High School in Manatí, Puerto Rico where he was a sprint champion.[1]

Professional career

Boston Red Sox

Fuentes was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the first round of the 2009 MLB Draft. He was the 28th overall pick of the draft, and was given a $1,134,000 signing bonus.[2] [3]

San Diego Padres

On December 6, 2010, he was traded to the San Diego Padres along with Anthony Rizzo, Casey Kelly, and Eric Patterson for first baseman Adrián González.[4] [5] Fuentes was ranked between the sixth and tenth best prospect in the Red Sox organization.[6]

Fuentes spent 2011 with the High-A Lake Elsinore Storm where he hit .275 in 510 at-bats and stole 41 bases. In 2012, he played 134 games in center field with the Double-A San Antonio Missions where his average dropped to .218 in 473 at-bats. Fuentes again opened 2013 with the Missions and raised his average to .316 with 6 home runs and 29 stolen bases in 93 games, spending time at all 3 outfield positions. He was promoted to the Triple-A Tucson Padres on August 10 where he collected 23 hits in 14 games before his Major League call-up.

Fuentes played for the World Team in the 2013 All-Star Futures Game.

Fuentes was called up to the Major Leagues from Triple-A on August 26, 2013, and started in center field that night.[7] He remained with the team for the remainder of the year, making six more starts in center and appearing in a total of 23 games. He collected 5 hits in 33 at-bats and also had 3 stolen bases.

Kansas City Royals

On November 20, 2014, Fuentes was traded to the Kansas City Royals for Kyle Bartsch.[8] After a Spring Training in which he hit .386, Fuentes was selected to be the Royals' Opening Day right fielder to start off the 2016 season, winning the spot over Jarrod Dyson and Paulo Orlando. Despite hitting .317 as a Royal, he was sent down to Triple-A Omaha and released after clearing waivers on September 14, 2016.[9]

Arizona Diamondbacks

On December 24, 2016, Fuentes signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.[10] He was called up to the Diamondbacks on May 16, 2017, and was inserted into the starting line-up the same day.[11] He hit his first MLB home run on June 18, 2017, in the 10th inning of a tie game with the Philadelphia Phillies against Jeanmar Gómez; the Diamondbacks won 5–4.[12]

He was designated for assignment on January 31, 2018, and cleared waivers on February 5.[13] Fuentes spent the season with the Triple–A Reno Aces, playing in 85 games and hitting .265/.345/.394 with six home runs, 39 RBI, and 10 stolen bases. He elected free agency following the season on November 2.[14]

Long Island Ducks

On April 4, 2019, Fuentes signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He became a free agent following the season in 100 games he slashed .258/.340/.429 with 14 home runs and 47 RBI. Fuentes did not play in a game in 2020.

After the 2020 season, he played for Criollos de Caguas of the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente (LBPRC). He has also played for Puerto Rico in the 2021 Caribbean Series.

On May 26, 2021, Fuentes re-signed with the Ducks for the upcoming season.[15] He became a free agent following the season in 22 games he slashed .222/.355/.349 with 2 home runs and 11 RBI.

International career

Fuentes played for the Puerto Rico national baseball team at the 2011 Baseball World Cup, 2011 Pan American Games and 2017 World Baseball Classic.

In 2017 World Baseball Classic, he played center field defensively and batted ninth.[16]

Personal life

Fuentes is the cousin of right-fielder Carlos Beltrán.[17]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Brunell. Evan. Getting to know Sox first-round pick Reymond Fuentes. bleacher/report. 26 January 2014. September 13, 2009.
  2. News: Barone. John. Red Sox pick dynamic outfielder at 28. April 26, 2015. MLB.com. June 10, 2009.
  3. News: First-round picks signing on the dotted line. April 26, 2015. USA Today. August 18, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20150426022406/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/draft/signing-bonuses-draft.htm. April 26, 2015.
  4. News: Drellich . Evan . Gonzalez 'ready to beat the Yanks' . December 6, 2010 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20101209082346/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101206&content_id=16260572&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb . dead . December 9, 2010.
  5. News: Brock . Corey . Patterson to Friars completes Gonzalez deal . December 16, 2010 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20101222021625/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101216&content_id=16332932&vkey=news_bos&c_id=bos . dead . December 22, 2010.
  6. News: Center . Bill . Gonzalez, Hoyer discuss Padres-Red Sox deal . . December 6, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110716070633/http://web.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/dec/06/hoyer-explains-gonzalez-trade-while-adrian-dons-re/ . dead . July 16, 2011.
  7. Web site: Brock. Corey. Padres eager to see Fuentes' Majors potential. MLB.com. 26 January 2014. August 26, 2013.
  8. News: Royals get OF Fuentes from Padres for LHP Bartsch. November 21, 2014. Associated Press. ESPN.com. November 20, 2014.
  9. News: [goo.gl/je7K47 Royals outright Tepesch, Release Fuentes]. fansided.com. September 16, 2016. October 20, 2016.
  10. Web site: Minor League Transactions: Dec. 10–22. Eddy. Matt. baseballamerica.com. December 24, 2016. December 24, 2016.
  11. Web site: Arizona Diamondbacks - PlayerWatch . . https://web.archive.org/web/20190416044705/https://www.reuters.com/article/bbo-diamondbacks-playerwatch-idUSMTZED5G21XRWK . 2019-04-16 . live .
  12. Web site: Fuentes gets 1st HR in 10th, D-backs beat Phillies 5–4. Associated Press. ESPN. 19 June 2017.
  13. Web site: Minor MLB Transactions: 2/5/18. Adams. Steve. mlbtraderumors.com. February 5, 2018. February 5, 2018.
  14. Web site: Minor League Free Agents 2018. April 30, 2024. baseballamerica.com. en.
  15. Web site: Ducks Win Spring Training Finale, Sign Five Players. 26 May 2021.
  16. Web site: Young stars join Beltran, Yadi for Puerto Rico. Chad. Thornburg. MLB.com. February 8, 2017. March 14, 2017.
  17. Web site: Padres select OF Reymond Fuentes and recall RHP Anthony Bass from Triple-A Tucson. Padres Press Release. MLB.com. 26 January 2014. August 26, 2013.