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Sal Fasano

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Sal Fasano
Toronto Blue Jays – No. 13
Catcher
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
debut
April 3, 1996, for the Kansas City Royals
Career statistics
(through 2006)
Batting average.221
Home runs46
RBI's130
Former teams

Salvatore Frank Fasano (born August 10, 1971 in Chicago, Illinois) is a Major League Baseball catcher in the Toronto Blue Jays organization. Fasano stands at 6'2" tall and weighs 245 pounds. He bats and throws right handed.

Minor league tenure

Fasano played for the University of Evansville and was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 37th round of the 1993 Amateur Draft. During his tenure in the minor leagues, he became a highly regarded catcher. Fasano made the Midwest League All-Star team in 1994, and the Pacific Coast League All-Star team in 1999. Also in 1994, he was named the Midwest League's Most Valuable Player.

Kansas City Royals

After three seasons in the minor leagues, the catcher made his major league debut on April 3, 1996 for the Royals. He spent the next three seasons splitting catching duties with starters Mike Macfarlane and rising prospect Mike Sweeney. In 1998 he established career highs in at-bats (216) and RBIs (31). He also ranked second in American League in HBPs with 16.

Oakland Athletics

The Oakland Athletics purchased Fasano's contract from the Royals in March of 2000 and handed the portly catcher the team's back up duties behind starter Ramon Hernandez. Fasano helped the A's capture the A.L. West division crown that season, and made his, to date, only post season appearance as a defensive replacement. The Royals repurchased his contract the following off-season.

Colorado Rockies

Fasano's hitting woes continued back in Kansas City, and the Royals and swapped back-up catchers with the Colorado Rockies in June 2001, with Brent Mayne heading to Royals. After an uneventful half season in another reserve role, Fasano and the Rockies cut ties later that autumn.

Baltimore Orioles

After one at-bat with the Anaheim Angels in 2002, Fasano in his first season back in the majors achieved career highs in home runs (11) and runs scored (25) as a member of the Baltimore Orioles.

Philadelphia Phillies

Fasano began 2006 for the Philadelphia Phillies as a backup to Mike Lieberthal. His distinctive Fu Manchu mustache earned him the cult admiration of Phillies fans, who began a Phan Phavorites fan club called Sal's Pals. Fasano showed his gratitude by buying the group tickets and pizza. Fasano began to see more playing time as Lieberthal got injured, eventually taking over the starting role. His light hitting though cost him his job as rookie backstop Chris Coste emerged in Lieberthal's absence. When Lieberthal returned, there was no spot for Fasano. He was designated for assignment and acquired by the New York Yankees in exchange for minor league infielder Hector Made.

New York Yankees

One of Fasano's first acts as a Yankee was to trim his notable facial hair, a requirement set forth by owner George Steinbrenner. He spent the late summer and September as a back-up to Jorge Posada and was not included on New York's postseason roster.

Fasano agreed to a minor league contract with the Blue Jays in January of 2007, and was invited to major league spring training.


Trivia

Career statistics

  • Career statistics and player information from Error: Template:Baseballstats must contain at least one valid parameter name.

References

  1. ^ "Sal Fasano". ESPN.com. 2007-02-24.
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