The Colorado Rockies released left-handed pitcher Fernando Abad on Wednesday, making the 11-year MLB veteran a free agent. Abad was excellent this season with the Rockies Triple-A affiliate but allowed three earned runs across 2.2 innings (three appearances) in the majors. He has played with 12 different MLB organizations over his long career, including a short stint with the SF Giants during the 2019 season.
Now 37, Abad has been playing professional baseball since he signed with the Houston Astros as a 20-year-old back in 2006. The southpaw climbed through the minors with Houston, making his big-league debut with the team in 2010. After three MLB seasons with the Astros, Abad was traded to the Oakland Athletics for a minor leaguer.
Abad was a solid middle reliever in Oakland for two seasons before hitting the open market and signing with the Minnesota Twins. A strong first half in Minnesota once again led Abad to be traded, this time to the Boston Red Sox, where he pitched for the next season and a half.
Injuries derailed Abad's 2018 season, forcing him to ink a minor-league deal with the Giants in 2019. Abad posted a 2.70 ERA in 41 Triple-A appearances with San Francisco before he was called up late in the season. He pitched in 21 games with the Giants, recording a 4.15 ERA with nine strikeouts and three walks in 13 innings pitched.
Abad did not pitch in an official game during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season before a similar stint with the Orioles in 2021. He spent all of last season with the Seattle Mariners Triple-A affiliate. This year, before the Rockies called him up, Abad struck out 20 in 16 innings pitched with two walks and a 1.69 ERA at Triple-A.
Fernando Abad has had an impressive MLB career. Even at 37, the lefty has continued to dominate the upper minors this season despite his struggles in a brief appearance with the Rockies. Now, we'll see where the former SF Giants reliever lands next.
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