Brian Fuentes

Brian Christopher Fuentes

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 4", Weight 220 lb.
• School Merced Junior College
• High School Merced High School
• Debut June 2, 2001
• Final Game August 8, 2012
• Born August 9, 1975 in Merced, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Brian Fuentes converted each of his last 17 save opportunities and 25 of his last 27 for the Colorado Rockies in 2005. He is the only closer since the New York Yankees' Dave Righetti in 1988 to blow four consecutive saves. In 2011, Fuentes became the third reliever since 1920 to pick up 7 losses in his team's first 50 games; Jim Kern (1980) and Gene Garber (1979) were the only others to do so.

Fuentes recorded his 200th career save on May 2, 2012, while pitching for the Oakland Athletics. He was only the fifth lefthander in baseball history to reach the total. He was released by the Athletics midway through that season, after putting up a 6.84 ERA, and then pitched 6 times for the St. Louis Cardinals with no more success. He made his final appearance for the Cardinals on August 8th, after which he asked for a leave of absence because of family issues. A free agent after the season, he instead annouced his retirement on November 14th, finishing his career with a record of 26-43, 3.62 and 204 saves in 650 games, all of them as a reliever.

Notable Achievements

• 4-time All-Star (2005-2007 & 2009)
• AL Saves Leader (2009)
• 30 Saves Seasons: 4 (2005, 2006, 2008 & 2009)
• 40 Saves Seasons: 1 (2009)

Related Sites

• Brian Fuentes at the SABR Bio Project