Sal Fasano is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played for several teams during his career. He was born on August 10, 1971, in Chicago, Illinois, and attended Hoffman Estates High School. Fasano was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 37th round of the 1993 MLB draft but did not sign with the team. Instead, he attended Indiana University, where he played college baseball for the Hoosiers.
Fasano was eventually drafted by the Kansas City Royals again, this time in the 37th round of the 1996 MLB draft. He signed with the team and began his professional career in the minor leagues. Fasano made his MLB debut with the Royals on September 5, 1996, and played in 11 games for the team that season.
Over the course of his career, Fasano played for several teams, including the Royals, the Oakland Athletics, the Colorado Rockies, the Anaheim Angels, the Baltimore Orioles, the Philadelphia Phillies, the New York Yankees, the Toronto Blue Jays, and the Cleveland Indians. He was primarily used as a backup catcher and played in a total of 427 MLB games.
Fasano was known for his strong arm behind the plate and his ability to handle pitchers. He was also a fan favorite for his distinctive mustache, which he grew throughout his career. Fasano was a solid defensive catcher but struggled at the plate, finishing his career with a .221 batting average, 35 home runs, and 123 RBIs.
After retiring from playing, Fasano became a coach and manager in the minor leagues. He managed the Toronto Blue Jays' Class-A affiliate, the Lansing Lugnuts, from 2013 to 2014 and the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats from 2015 to 2017. In 2018, Fasano was named the manager of the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils, a Philadelphia Phillies affiliate.
Overall, Sal Fasano had a solid career as a backup catcher in the MLB. He was known for his strong arm and defensive skills behind the plate and was a fan favorite for his distinctive mustache. After retiring from playing, Fasano became a successful coach and manager in the minor leagues.
⚾