Alex Faedo

Alex Faedo
Faedo with the Toledo Mud Hens in 2023
Detroit Tigers – No. 49
Pitcher
Born: (1995-11-12) November 12, 1995 (age 29)
Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 4, 2022, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record8–13
Earned run average4.51
Strikeouts157
Teams

Alexander Michael Faedo (born November 12, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Amateur career

Faedo attended Braulio Alonso High School in Tampa, Florida. As a senior, he went 6–2 with a 0.58 earned run average (ERA) and 68 strikeouts in 48 innings.[1] As a junior, he was 8–2 with a 1.15 ERA and threw a no-hitter.[2] Faedo was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 40th round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft, though did not sign and attended the University of Florida to play college baseball.[3][4]

As a freshman at Florida in 2015, Faedo appeared in 17 games with 12 starts going 6–1 with a 3.23 ERA and 59 strikeouts.[5] As a sophomore in 2016, he started 17 games and went 13–3 with a 3.18 ERA and 133 strikeouts.[6] After the season, Faedo played for the United States collegiate national team.[7] As a junior in 2017, he started 17 games during the regular season, and went 7–2 with a 2.60 ERA, with 132 strikeouts over 107+1⁄3 innings pitched, and helped lead Florida to the College World Series, and win their first National Championship. During the College World Series, Faedo allowed five hits and no runs, with 22 strikeouts in 14+1⁄3 innings against TCU. He was named to the All-Tournament Team and awarded the College World Series Most Outstanding Player.[8][9]

Professional career

Faedo was again selected by the Detroit Tigers, in the first round, 18th overall, of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.[8][10] He signed with the Tigers, but did not make his professional debut in 2017 and sat out the season due to his workload at Florida.[11] Faedo began the 2018 season with the Lakeland Flying Tigers of the High-A Florida State League.[12] On June 18, the Tigers promoted Faedo to the Erie SeaWolves of the Double-A Eastern League.[13] In 24 total starts between the two teams, he went 5–10 with a 4.02 ERA.[14] Faedo returned to Erie to begin 2019.[15] He made 22 starts for the 2019 SeaWolves, pitching to a 6–7 record with a 3.90 ERA and 134 strikeouts over 115+1⁄3 innings.[16]

The Tigers added Faedo to their 40-man roster after the 2020 season.[17] On December 19, 2020, the Tigers announced Faedo would undergo Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow which would cause him to sit out the entire 2021 season.[18]

Fully recovered from surgery, Faedo started the 2022 season back in Lakeland where he posted a 2.53 ERA in three appearances for the Flying Tigers before being sent to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens. After making just one start for Toledo, he was called up to the Tigers on May 4 and made his major league debut in the second game of a doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He started and pitched five innings, allowing eight hits, two earned runs and one walk, while striking out one batter. He left the game with the score tied 2–2, receiving a no-decision.[19] After making two starts, Faedo was returned to Toledo. He was brought up again by the Tigers on May 16, following an injury to Michael Pineda, starting in the May 16 game against the Tampa Bay Rays, near his childhood home, and gave up just one run in 5+2⁄3 innings.[20] In his next start on May 22, Faedo earned his first major league win, allowing two runs in 5+1⁄3 innings against the Cleveland Guardians.[21] Once Pineda returned from the injured list on July 1, Faedo was optioned back to Toledo.[22] Faedo later suffered a right hip injury and missed the remainder of the season.[23]

Faedo was optioned to Triple-A Toledo to begin the 2023 season.[24] He was called up to the Tigers again on May 7.[25] For the major league club in 2023, Faedo made 15 appearances (12 starts), posting a 2–5 record with a 4.45 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 64+2⁄3 innings.

Faedo began the 2024 season in the Tigers bullpen. Aside from serving as an opener on 6 games, Faedo spent the majority of the season pitching out of the bullpen. In 37 games, he recorded a 3.61 ERA with 55 strikeouts over 57+1⁄3 innings. Faedo was placed on the injured list with a right shoulder strain on August 22, and it was announced the next week that he had been ruled out for the remainder of the season.[26]

Personal life

Faedo is the nephew of former Minnesota Twins shortstop Lenny Faedo.[27] His father, Landy Faedo, is a long-time high school baseball coach in the Tampa Bay area.[20]

References

  1. ^ "Alonso's Faedo captures Tony Saladino Award". June 14, 2014.
  2. ^ "Alonso's Faedo tosses no-hitter at home". April 13, 2013.
  3. ^ "Hillsborough baseball preview: Spotlight doesn't faze Alonso's Alex Faedo". Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  4. ^ "Florida high school sports – Alonso's Alex Faedo chooses UF". www.tampabay.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  5. ^ "Sophomore Pitcher Alex Faedo is Turning Heads for the Gators – ESPN 98.1 FM – 850 AM WRUF". www.wruf.com. April 4, 2016.
  6. ^ "Alex Faedo Sidelined For Fall Ball - BaseballAmerica.com". September 29, 2016.
  7. ^ "Alonso High alum Alex Faedo named to USA Baseball college team". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  8. ^ a b Beck, Jason (June 12, 2017). "Tigers take college RHP Faedo with 18th pick". MLB.com. Archived from the original on June 13, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  9. ^ Olson, Eric (June 28, 2017). "Florida wins College World Series; Tigers' Alex Faedo named MVP". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  10. ^ "Detroit Tigers draft Alonso alum Alex Faedo 18th overall". Tampa Bay Times. June 12, 2017. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  11. ^ "The Tigers should be aggressive with prospect Alex Faedo". Bless You Boys. January 5, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  12. ^ "Faedo retires 13 straight in pro debut".
  13. ^ Sipple, George (June 18, 2018). "Detroit Tigers promote RHP Alex Faedo, OF Daz Cameron to Double-A Erie". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  14. ^ "Alex Faedo Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  15. ^ "SeaWolves' Faedo tosses gem in '19 debut".
  16. ^ "Alex Faedo Makes Strides in 2019".
  17. ^ "Detroit Tigers protect four important prospects from Rule 5 draft".
  18. ^ Petzold, Evan. "Detroit Tigers prospect Alex Faedo to have Tommy John surgery this month". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  19. ^ Petzold, Evan (May 4, 2022). "Detroit Tigers lose 7-2 in Alex Faedo's MLB debut, split doubleheader against Pirates". freep.com. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  20. ^ a b Haddad, CJ (May 16, 2022). "Tampa native Faedo fans 4 in homecoming". mlb.com. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  21. ^ Day, Brandon (May 22, 2022). "Tigers 4, Guardians 2: Good defense and timely hitting were a sight for sore eyes". blessyouboys.com. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  22. ^ "Tigers activate Michael Pineda from IL, option rookie pitcher to Toledo". mlive. July 1, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  23. ^ "Detroit Tigers' Alex Faedo (hip), Kyle Funkhouser (shoulder) to miss rest of 2022 season". freep.com. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  24. ^ "Tigers' Alex Faedo: Misses Opening Day roster". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  25. ^ Petzold, Evan. "Former prospect Alex Faedo returns to Detroit Tigers for Sunday's start vs. Cardinals". Detroit Free Press.
  26. ^ "Tigers Designate Joey Wentz For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  27. ^ Neumann, Thomas. "First-round pick Alex Faedo whets Tigers' appetite with poised debut". The Athletic. Retrieved May 16, 2022.