Jeff Fassero

Jeff Fassero
Fassero with the Peoria Chiefs in 2011
Pitcher
Born: (1963-01-05) January 5, 1963
Springfield, Illinois, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
MLB debut
May 4, 1991, for the Montreal Expos
Last MLB appearance
May 7, 2006, for the San Francisco Giants
MLB statistics
Win–loss record121–124
Earned run average4.11
Strikeouts1,643
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Teams

Jeffrey Joseph Fassero (born January 5, 1963) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher and minor league coach. He played for nine MLB teams and was an Opening Day starter several times for both the Montreal Expos and Seattle Mariners.

Playing career

Fassero played college baseball Lincoln Land Community College in his hometown of Springfield, Illinois, then for the Ole Miss Rebels. The St. Louis Cardinals drafted Fassero in the 22nd round of the 1984 MLB draft.[1]

Montreal Expos

Fassero signed as a free agent with the Montreal Expos in January 1991 and made his MLB debut that May. At 28, Fassero was somewhat old for a rookie, but pitched well for the team and eventually made it to the starting rotation by the 1993 season. That same year he posted an impressive 2.29 earned run average (ERA). He became a full-time starter during the 1994 season.[2] On June 13, he was one out away from a no-hitter when a ball bounced out of his glove for a hit. He allowed a two-run home run to the next batter, Jay Bell of the Pittsburgh Pirates.[3] His final season in Montreal was his best, as he won 15 games with 222 strikeouts in 1996. He was the National League (NL) Pitcher of the Month in June and July and finished ninth in NL Cy Young Award voting.[2]

Seattle Mariners

On October 29, 1996, in a cost-cutting move, the Expos traded Fassero and Alex Pacheco to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Chris Widger, Matt Wagner, and Trey Moore.[4] Fassero had one of his best seasons for the Mariners in 1997. That season he posted a 16–9 win-loss record with a 3.61 ERA.[2] He tied for the major league lead with 35 starts.[5]

Later MLB career

Fassero enjoyed some stability during his time with the Mariners, but after a mid-season waiver claim by the Texas Rangers in 1999,[6] he would wind up playing on eight different teams from 1999 to 2005. He proved to no longer be effective as a regular starter, so he was moved into the bullpen. Fassero made six starts for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2003 but only won one game.[2]

While with the Colorado Rockies in September 2004, Fassero got into a dispute with Colorado management when he was called on to make a spot start on short notice. Fassero said that he would not be ready in time and was subsequently released by the Rockies due to what manager Clint Hurdle called "philosophical differences".[7] The same day he was released, Fassero with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He pitched once for Arizona, throwing one perfect inning in relief.[2]

San Francisco Giants

Fassero signed with the Giants on December 15, 2004 and remained on the team until May 8, 2006, when the Giants designated him for assignment. The move cleared room on the team's roster for starter Noah Lowry.[8][9]

On February 9, 2007, Fassero announced his retirement.[10] In the winter of 2008, though, Fassero pitched with Mayos de Navojoa in the Mexican Pacific League before he retired for good.[1]

Coaching career

Fassero was hired in December 2009 as the pitching coach for the Boise Hawks, a minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs in the Class A Short Season Northwest League. For the 2011 season, Fassero was promoted to pitching coach of the Peoria Chiefs in the Midwest League.[11] Fassero received a promotion to the Double-A Tennessee Smokies for the 2012 season.[12]

From 2014 to 2015, Fassero was the pitching coach for the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos in the Cincinnati Reds minor league system. He started the 2016 season as a roving pitching instructor for the Cincinnati Reds before being named pitching coach of the Triple-A Louisville Bats, taking over for the recently promoted Ted Power.[13] Fassero coached the Bats through 2019.[12]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Pilger, Hal (February 14, 2009). "2009 SSHOF Inductee: Jeff Fassero's road to Hall winds through three countries". The State Journal-Register. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Jeff Fassero Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Montreal's Fassero bobbles no-hitter". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. June 13, 1994. Retrieved May 6, 2026 – via Google News Archive Search.
  4. ↑ "Mariners Acquire Fassero from Expos". Los Angeles Times. October 30, 1996. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  5. ↑ "1997 Major League Baseball Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Rangers Claim Fassero". The Oklahoman. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Fassero released after disagreement about playing time". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 27, 2004.
  8. ↑ "Giants Notes: Fassero is resigned to farewell". East Bay Times. May 9, 2006. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  9. ↑ "FASSERO REMOVED FROM ROSTER:UNLESS ANOTHER CLUB IS INTERESTED, LEFTY'S 15-YEAR BIG-LEAGUE CAREER IS OVER". The Press Democrat. May 9, 2006. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Fassero retires after 16 major league seasons". ESPN. Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 11, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Kopitzke Returns as Chiefs Manager for 2011". MiLB.com. December 16, 2010.
  12. 1 2 "Jeff Fassero - Jobs in Baseball". The Baseball Cube. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Jeff Fassero to take over Bats pitchers". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
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