Brian Fuentes is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for several teams during his career. He was born on August 9, 1975, in Merced, California, and attended Merced High School. Fuentes was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 25th round of the 1995 MLB draft but did not sign with the team. Instead, he attended Merced College and later transferred to the University of Nevada, Reno.
Fuentes was eventually drafted by the Seattle Mariners again in the 25th round of the 1998 MLB draft and signed with the team. He made his MLB debut with the Mariners in 2001 and pitched in 26 games for the team that season. Fuentes was then traded to the Colorado Rockies in 2002, where he spent the next seven seasons of his career.
During his time with the Rockies, Fuentes became the team's closer and recorded 115 saves from 2005 to 2008. He was named to the National League All-Star team in 2005 and 2006 and finished in the top ten in NL saves in each of those seasons. Fuentes also helped lead the Rockies to the World Series in 2007, where they lost to the Boston Red Sox.
After leaving the Rockies in 2008, Fuentes played for several other teams, including the Los Angeles Angels, Minnesota Twins, Oakland Athletics, and St. Louis Cardinals. He continued to be a reliable relief pitcher and recorded a total of 204 saves during his career.
Fuentes retired from baseball in 2012 after 12 seasons in the MLB. He finished his career with a 3.62 ERA, 204 saves, and 838 strikeouts in 644 innings pitched. Fuentes was known for his deceptive delivery and ability to pitch effectively against both left-handed and right-handed batters.
Off the field, Fuentes was involved in several charitable organizations, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Brian Fuentes Foundation, which supports youth baseball programs. He also served as a coach for the USA Baseball 18U National Team in 2018.
In conclusion, Brian Fuentes had a successful career as a relief pitcher in the MLB, recording over 200 saves and earning two All-Star selections. He was a key player for the Colorado Rockies during their World Series run in 2007 and continued to be a reliable pitcher for several other teams throughout his career. Fuentes was also involved in charitable work and coaching after his retirement from baseball.
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