Laurila: Rangers’ Pete Fairbanks on his memorable major-league debut
From SABR member David Laurila at FanGraphs on June 11, 2019:
Pete Fairbanks had more than just a memorable major league debut on Sunday. He had a spectacular debut. The 25-year-old Texas Rangers right-hander entered a game against the Oakland A’s in the fifth inning and proceeded to fan the first three batters he faced. He then returned to the mound in the sixth and, with an E-5 sandwiched in between, induced a groundball out and an inning-ending double play. Not bad for a former ninth-round pick who began the season with the Down East Wood Ducks in the High-A Carolina League.
Fairbanks fashioned a 2.35 ERA, with 36 strikeouts in 23 innings between three levels prior to his call-up. The University of Missouri product is a power pitcher. His fastball topped out at 99 mph on Sunday, and his high-80s slider features good tilt. Health had held him back. Fairbanks missed all of last season while recovering from his second Tommy John surgery. He’d also gone under the knife in high school.
Read the full article here: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/rangers-righty-pete-fairbanks-on-his-memorable-major-league-debut/
Originally published: June 11, 2019. Last Updated: June 11, 2019.