Fernando Antonio Abad is a left-handed Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...

 relief pitcher

Pitcher

In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...

 for the Houston Astros

Houston Astros

The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...

.

Abad began his professional career in 2006, pitching for the Dominican Summer Astros

Dominican Summer Astros

The Dominican Summer Astros are a minor league baseball team of the Dominican Summer League, and a Rookie-level affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Boca Chica, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.-References:...

. That year, he went 5-2 with a 1.32 ERA in 15 games (11 games started). He also struck out 64 batters in 61 1/3 innings.

He split 2007 between the Greeneville Astros

Greeneville Astros

The Greeneville Astros are a minor league baseball team of the Appalachian League, and a Rookie-level affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Greeneville, Tennessee, and play their home games at Pioneer Park on the campus of Tusculum College....

 (17 games, four starts) and Tri-City ValleyCats (two games), going a combined 6-4 with a 4.25 ERA, with 59 strikeouts in 53 innings. In 2008, he pitched for the Lexington Legends

Lexington Legends

The Lexington Legends are a minor league baseball team of the South Atlantic League , and the Class A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Lexington, Kentucky, and play their home games at Whitaker Bank Ballpark, located in an industrial area on the northeast side of the city just...

, going 2-7 with a 3.30 ERA in 45 relief appearances, striking out 94 batters in 76 1/3 innings.

Abad pitched for the Lancaster Jethawks

Lancaster JetHawks

The Lancaster JetHawks are a minor league baseball team of the California League located in Lancaster, California. The team is named for the city's association with the aerospace industry and plays its home games at Clear Channel Stadium...

 (41 games) and Corpus Christi Hooks

Corpus Christi Hooks

The Corpus Christi Hooks are a minor league baseball team of the Texas League, and are the Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and are named for the city's association with fishing. The team's ownership group is headed by Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan...

 (three games, all starts) in 2009, going a combined 4-7 with a 4.00 ERA, striking out 92 batters in 96 2/3 innings of work.

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