FREDDY FERMIN NEWS

Freddy Fermin, Bobby Witt Jr. go yard as Royals edge A's Freddy Fermin hit two early home runs, Bobby Witt Jr.broke an eighth-inning tie with one of his own and the Kansas City Royals avoided a thr...

JUNE 20 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Fermin homers twice, Witt hits go-ahead blast in 8th to send Royals past A's 3-2

Freddy Fermin homered twice and Bobby Witt Jr. hit the go-ahead homer in the eighth inning as the Kansas City Royals beat the Oakland Athletics 3-2 to avoid a three-game sweep

JUNE 20 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Working behind plate Wednesday Fermin will start at catcher and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Tigers.

Impact He'll be rewarded with his third start in four games after going 4-for-7 with a walk, an RBI and two runs between his previous two turns behind the plate. The Royals will likely continue to make room for Fermin in the lineup when the team opposes left-handed pitching, but his opportunities against right-handers will likely remain more limited while top backstop Salvador Perez is healthy.

MAY 22 • ROTOWIRE

Projected as backup catcher Fermin is projected to be the Royals' backup catcher to begin 2024, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Impact The Royals recently signed Austin Nola, but he's viewed as an experienced depth option. Fermin has gone 1-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout over two Cactus League games. With Salvador Perez in the latter half of his career, it wouldn't be surprising to see Fermin shoulder more of the workload behind the dish, which could see Perez take more games at first base or designated hitter.

MARCH 2 • ROTOWIRE

Transferred to 60-day IL Fermin (finger) was transferred to the 60-day injured list from the 10-day IL on Monday.

Impact The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for fellow catcher Tyler Cropley, whose contract was selected from Omaha. Fermin had already been ruled out for the season following surgery last week to repair a fractured left middle finger.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Season over after finger surgery Fermin underwent season-ending surgery Tuesday to repair a fractured left middle finger, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Impact Fermin suffered the injury last Friday on a catcher's interference call. He is certainly done for the season, but the hope is that he will be fully healthy by the time spring training rolls around. It's an unfortunate ending to what has been a nice season for Fermin, who batted .281/.321/.461 with nine home runs over 235 plate appearances in 2023. The 28-year-old has positioned himself to open 2024 as Salvador Perez's backup again, or perhaps even take over as starter if the Royals decide to trade Perez over the winter.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Out with broken finger Fermin was placed on the 10-day injured list with a fractured right middle finger Saturday.

Impact The Royals haven't given a timeline for Fermin's return, but given the timing, the injury seemingly has a good chance of being season-ending. If that's the case, Fermin will end the year with a .281/.321/.461 line in 70 games, good for a 107 wRC+. Tyler Cropley was called up to take his place on the roster and provide additional catching depth.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sits after four straight starts Fermin is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.

Impact Fermin appeared to be losing out on playing time as August came to a close, but he started each of the past four games behind the plate, going 5-for-15 with a double, a walk, two RBI and a run scored over that stretch. Salvador Perez will be behind the dish Sunday, but the Royals could continue to open up more starts at catcher for Fermin by deploying Perez at either first base or designated hitter.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Losing out on playing time Fermin is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners.

Impact Fermin seems to have moved into more of a part-time role of late, as he'll hit the bench for the third time in seven games while he's slashed a paltry .107/.129/.143 since Aug. 15. With Salvador Perez picking up more playing time behind the dish rather than at first base or designated hitter of late, Matt Beaty has been gaining more traction in the Royals' everyday lineup.

AUGUST 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Takes the bench Tuesday Fermin is not in the lineup Tuesday versus the Athletics.=

Impact Fermin will now have started in one game of the past three. Prior to this, he had made four consecutive starts, going 3-for-10. With Nick Pratto still on the injured list, Perez will move back to catcher and Matt Beaty will take a seat for Matt Duffy.

AUGUST 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Receives Sunday off Fermin is out of the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Cubs.

Impact Fermin worked behind the plate the previous three games and will receive a day off after going 3-for-10 with a double, a walk and two RBI. Salvador Perez will move back to catcher while Matt Beaty starts at first base.

AUGUST 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Goes to bench Wednesday Fermin is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mariners.

Impact With Matt Beaty picking up more starts at first base of late, Salvador Perez has been getting playing more frequently behind the dish. Fermin has found himself getting squeezed out of the lineup of late as a result, as he'll now take a seat for the third time in five games. Fermin is still holding down an .847 OPS in August, so he shouldn't be completely phased out of the lineup while he remains one of the Royals' hotter hitters.

AUGUST 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Homers in Wednesday's loss Fermin went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Red Sox.

Impact Fermin is 9-for-28 (.321) with three homers, two doubles and five RBI over seven games in August. With Salvador Perez seeing more time at first base, Fermin has been able to carve out a larger role behind the plate. The catcher is slashing a strong .303/.339/.542 with nine long balls, 27 RBI, 22 runs scored, eight doubles and a triple over 166 plate appearances this season, suggesting his recent success is more than a flash in a pan. That said, Fermin has a .342 BABIP on the year, so he's also had a decent share of good luck.

AUGUST 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Running hot at plate Fermin went 2-for-4 with a double in Sunday's 8-4 loss to the Phillies.

Impact Fermin closed out the weekend with a fourth consecutive two-hit game, and he's now slashing a blistering .388/.404/.714 with four home runs, eight RBI and 11 runs in 13 games since the All-Star break. An injury to Nick Pratto (groin) along with his own hot bat has allowed Fermin to take hold of a regular spot in the lineup alongside veteran catcher Salvador Perez, who has been seeing more time at first base and designated hitter of late. Perez is out of the lineup Monday in Boston due to what appears to be a minor hand injury, so Matt Beaty will fill in at first base while Fermin bats sixth and settles in behind the plate for what will be his fifth consecutive start.

AUGUST 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Smacks two homers Saturday Fermin went 2-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs in Saturday's 9-6 loss to the Phillies.

Impact Fermin continues to sizzle in the second half of the season, with the pair of home runs giving him four since the All-Star break and now bringing his OPS up to 1.107 in the second half. While Nick Pratto (groin) has been on the injured list, the Royals have made room for both Fermin and Salvador Perez in the lineup, with the latter usually occupying Pratto's spot at first base. However, Perez will get a turn behind the dish in Sunday's series finale while Fermin serves as the Royals' designated hitter.

AUGUST 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Here's why Fermin's emergence at the plate shouldn't surprise PHILADELPHIA -- Only one catcher in all of Major League Baseball is hitting above .300 with at least 140 at-bats. He plays for the Royals, b...

AUGUST 6, 2023 • MLB.COM

Takes seat Wednesday Fermin is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mets.

Impact Fermin will head to the bench after he served as the Royals' starting catcher in four of the past five games. Salvador Perez, who started at first base and designated hitter in the last two contests, will move behind the plate Wednesday.

AUGUST 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Goes deep in Sunday's win Fermin went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Sunday's win over the Twins.

Impact Fermin blasted a 420 foot shot to left center field off Kenta Maeda in the second inning for his second home run in his last four games. The long ball also extended his hitting streak to a modest six games, a stretch during which he's recorded multi-hit efforts four times. Fermin is now up to a slash line of .299/.346/.504 with 13 extra-base hits, 22 RBI and 16 runs in 137 plate appearances and should continue to see the bulk of his starts behind the dish.

JULY 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Yarbrough's strong start and Fermin's homer help Royals sweep Twins 2-1

Freddy Fermin hit a homer, Maikel Garcia had an RBI double, Ryan Yarbrough gave up one run over seven innings and the Royals completed a sweep of the Twins 2-1

JULY 30, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Playing time trending upward Fermin will start at catcher and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Twins.

Impact With the Royals frequently deploying Salvador Perez at designated hitter of late and even handing him a start at first base Friday for the first time since 2020, Fermin has been the primary beneficiary. The 28-year-old will pick up his third start behind the dish in four games Sunday, and he's made a case for continuing to receive near-everyday playing time. He'll take a five-game hitting streak into Sunday's contest and owns an .830 OPS over 134 plate appearances on the season.

JULY 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Cranks fifth homer Fermin went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo home run in Sunday's loss to the Yankees.

Impact It's the third straight multi-hit game for Fermin, who's gone 7-for-11 (.636) with three extra-base hits in that span. The 28-year-old backstop certainly impressed while filling in for Salvador Perez behind the plate -- he's now slashing .293/.339/.491 with five home runs, 21 RBI and 14 runs scored through 125 plate appearances this season. If the Royals elect to move Perez at the trade deadline, Fermin could be a player to keep an eye on.

JULY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Tallies three hits Fermin went 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Tigers.

Impact Fermin tallied half of the Royals' six hits in the contest. It was his third three-hit effort since June 21, a span in which he's hitting .370 with one home run, 11 RBI, seven runs scored and four doubles. Fermin should have a chance to play more this week as Salvador Perez recovers from a low-grade hamstring strain. Through 117 plate appearances, Fermin is slashing .275/.319/.440 with four home runs, 19 RBI, 11 runs scored, four doubles and a triple.

JULY 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Freddy Fermin's double gets Royals past Guardians in 10 Pinch hitter Freddy Fermin hit a walk-off, two-run double in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Kansas City Royals to a 4-3 victory o...

JUNE 29, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Ramirez steal of home not enough as Fermin's double in 10th lifts Royals over Guardians 4-3

José Ramirez daringly stole home for the go-ahead run in the 10th inning, but the Kansas City Royals rebounded to beat the Cleveland Guardians 4-3 on pinch-hitter Freddy Fermin’s t...

JUNE 29, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Perfect from plate Fermin went 3-for-3 with a three-run homer and an additional run scored in Saturday's victory over the Rays.

Impact Fermin took Yonny Chirinos deep for a three-run home run in the fourth inning, plating Edward Olivares and Drew Waters to give the Royals a two-run lead. The outing marked his second three-hit effort across his last three appearances, while the home run was Fermin's first since May 12 (16 games). With Salvador Perez battling a hand and hamstring issue over the last 10 days, Fermin has managed to see action in seven of the Royals' previous 10 contests but is expected to return to a reserve role with Perez at full health.

JUNE 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE