Jeffrey Joseph Fassero (born January 5, 1963 in
SpringfieldSpringfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
,
IllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
) is a former
Major League BaseballMajor 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...
pitcherIn 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...
.
Montreal Expos
Fassero was drafted by the
St. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
in the 22nd round of the amateur draft, but he bounced around in the minors for several years until he joined the
Montreal ExposThe Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
in . At 28, Fassero was somewhat old for a rookie, but pitched well for the team and eventually made it to the starting rotation by the season. That same year he posted an impressive
ERAIn baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 2.29.
Seattle Mariners
Fassero was traded to the
Seattle MarinersThe Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
after the season in exchange for
Chris WidgerChristopher Jon Widger is a former Major League Baseball catcher.-Career:A third round pick in the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft, Widger played for the Seattle Mariners , Montréal Expos , New York Yankees , St. Louis Cardinals , Chicago White Sox , and Baltimore Orioles...
and
Trey MooreWarren Neal "Trey" Moore III , is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched parts of three seasons in the major leagues, between and , for the Montreal Expos and Atlanta Braves. He also played three seasons in Japan, from until , for the Hanshin Tigers and Orix BlueWave.-External links:...
, Fassero had one of his best seasons for the Mariners in . That season he posted a 16-9
won-loss recordIn professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
with a 3.61 ERA in 35 starts.
Rangers, Red Sox, Cubs, Cardinals
Fassero enjoyed some stability during his time with the Mariners, but after a mid-season trade to the
Texas RangersThe Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
in he would wind up playing on eight different teams in only seven seasons. He proved to no longer be effective as a regular starter, so he was moved into the bullpen. While with the St. Louis Cardinals, Fassero made a few starts in the season, and would make occasional starts until the end of his career.
Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks
While with the
Colorado RockiesThe Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
in , Fassero got into a dispute with Colorado management when he was called on to make a spot start on short notice. Fassero said that he would not be ready in time, and was subsequently released by the Rockies due to what then-manager
Clint HurdleClinton Merrick Hurdle is a former Major League Baseball outfielder whose 10-year career was spent with the Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, and St. Louis Cardinals. After retiring from playing baseball, Hurdle became a manager...
called "philosophical differences".
He almost immediately signed with the
Arizona DiamondbacksThe Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
, but he only made one appearance with the team, pitching one perfect inning in relief.
San Francisco Giants
Fassero signed with the Giants on December 15, , and remained on the team until May 8, 2006 when the Giants designated Fassero for assignment. The move cleared room on the team's roster for left-handed starting pitcher
Noah LowryNoah Ryan Lowry is a free agent left-handed starting pitcher formerly of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball.-College and the MLB Draft:...
.
On February 9, 2007 he announced his retirement. In the winter of 2008, though, Fassero pitched with
Mayos de NavojoaThe Mayos de Navojoa is a Mexican baseball team in the Liga Mexicana del Pacífico .They have been champions of the league twice. The first time was at the 1978–79 season, with Chuck Goggin as coach...
in
Liga Mexicana del PacíficoThe Mexican Pacific League is a winter minor baseball league in Mexico. The eight-team league's regular season runs from October to December and is followed by a playoff series in January to determine the league champion...
before he finally retired for good.
Minor League Coach
Fassero was hired in December 2009 as the pitching coach for the
Boise HawksThe Boise Hawks are a minor league baseball team, located in Boise, Idaho. The team is currently a farm team for the Chicago Cubs and play in the Short-Season Class A Northwest League.-History:...
, a
minor leagueMinor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
affiliate of the
Chicago CubsThe Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
in the Class 'A' short-season
Northwest LeagueThe Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
.
For the 2011 season, Fassero was promoted to pitching coach of the
Peoria ChiefsThe Peoria Chiefs are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, from Peoria, Illinois. They play in the Midwest League....
in the Midwest League.
See also
External links