Rey Fuentes

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Reymond Fuentes

| position = Outfielder

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|2|12}}

| birth_place = Orlando, Florida, U.S.

| bats = Left

| throws = Left

| image = fuentesrey.jpg

| image_size = 240

| caption = Fuentes with the Diamondbacks in 2017

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = August 26

| debutyear = 2013

| debutteam = San Diego Padres

| finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = September 30

| finalyear = 2017

| finalteam = Arizona Diamondbacks

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .238

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 3

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 15

| teams =

San Diego Padres ({{mlby|2013}})
Kansas City Royals ({{mlby|2016}})
Arizona Diamondbacks ({{mlby|2017}})

|show-medals=no

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry | {{PUR}}}}

}}

Reymond Louis Fuentes (born February 12, 1991) is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, Kansas City Royals, and Arizona Diamondbacks.

Early life

Fuentes attended Fernando Callejo High School in Manatí, Puerto Rico where he was a sprint champion.{{cite web |last=Brunell |first=Evan |date=September 13, 2009 |title=Getting to know Sox first-round pick Reymond Fuentes |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/255012-getting-to-know-sox-first-round-pick-reymond-fuentes |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140126115501/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/255012-getting-to-know-sox-first-round-pick-reymond-fuentes |archive-date=26 January 2014 |access-date=26 January 2014 |website=Bleacher Report |publisher=}}

Professional career

=Boston Red Sox=

Fuentes was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the first round of the 2009 MLB Draft. He was the 28th overall pick of the draft, and was given a $1,134,000 signing bonus.{{cite news |last1=Barone |first1=John |date=June 10, 2009 |title=Red Sox pick dynamic outfielder at 28 |url=http://m.es.mlb.com/news/article/5226404/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093316/http://m.es.mlb.com/news/article/5226404/ |archive-date=2016-03-04 |access-date=April 26, 2015 |work=MLB.com}}{{cite news|title=First-round picks signing on the dotted line|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/draft/signing-bonuses-draft.htm|access-date=April 26, 2015|work=USA Today|date=August 18, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426022406/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/draft/signing-bonuses-draft.htm|archive-date=April 26, 2015}}

=San Diego Padres=

On December 6, 2010, he was traded to the San Diego Padres along with Anthony Rizzo, Casey Kelly, and Eric Patterson for first baseman Adrián González.{{cite news |last=Drellich |first=Evan |date=December 6, 2010 |title=Gonzalez 'ready to beat the Yanks' |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101206&content_id=16260572&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101209082346/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101206&content_id=16260572&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb |archive-date=December 9, 2010 |work=MLB.com}}{{Cite web |date=2010-12-16 |title=Padres Acquire Eric Patterson |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/12/padres-acquire-eric-patterson.html |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} Fuentes was ranked between the sixth and tenth best prospect in the Red Sox organization.{{cite news|last=Center |first=Bill |title=Gonzalez, Hoyer discuss Padres-Red Sox deal |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=December 6, 2010 |url=http://web.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/dec/06/hoyer-explains-gonzalez-trade-while-adrian-dons-re/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716070633/http://web.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/dec/06/hoyer-explains-gonzalez-trade-while-adrian-dons-re/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 16, 2011}}

Fuentes spent 2011 with the High-A Lake Elsinore Storm where he hit .275 in 510 at-bats and stole 41 bases. In 2012, he played 134 games in center field with the Double-A San Antonio Missions where his average dropped to .218 in 473 at-bats. Fuentes again opened 2013 with the Missions and raised his average to .316 with 6 home runs and 29 stolen bases in 93 games, spending time at all 3 outfield positions. He was promoted to the Triple-A Tucson Padres on August 10 where he collected 23 hits in 14 games before his Major League call-up.

Fuentes played for the World Team in the 2013 All-Star Futures Game.

Fuentes was called up to the Major Leagues from Triple-A on August 26, 2013, and started in center field that night.{{cite web |last=Brock |first=Corey |date=August 26, 2013 |title=Padres eager to see Fuentes' Majors potential |url=https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/padres-eager-to-see-reymond-fuentes-majors-potential/c-58521864 |access-date=26 January 2014 |work=MLB.com}} He remained with the team for the remainder of the year, making six more starts in center and appearing in a total of 23 games. He collected 5 hits in 33 at-bats and also had 3 stolen bases.

=Kansas City Royals=

On November 20, 2014, Fuentes was traded to the Kansas City Royals for Kyle Bartsch.{{cite news|title=Royals get OF Fuentes from Padres for LHP Bartsch|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=11911227|access-date=November 21, 2014|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=November 20, 2014}} After a Spring Training in which he hit .386, Fuentes was selected to be the Royals' Opening Day right fielder to start off the 2016 season, winning the spot over Jarrod Dyson and Paulo Orlando. Despite hitting .317 in 44 plate appearances as a Royal, he was sent down to Triple-A Omaha and released after clearing waivers on September 14.{{Cite web |date=2016-09-16 |title=Royals MiLB: Nick Tepesch To AAA, Reymond Fuentes Released |url=https://kingsofkauffman.com/2016/09/16/royals-milb-nick-tepesch-to-aaa-reymond-fuentes-released/ |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=Kings Of Kauffman |language=en-us}}

=Arizona Diamondbacks=

On December 24, 2016, Fuentes signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/minor-league-transactions-dec-10-22-2/#RqTSwuaBayDGT0yV.97|title=Minor League Transactions: Dec. 10–22|last=Eddy|first=Matt|work=baseballamerica.com|date=December 24, 2016|access-date=December 24, 2016}} He was called up to the Diamondbacks on May 16, 2017, and was inserted into the starting lineup the same day.{{cite web |title=Arizona Diamondbacks - PlayerWatch |website=Reuters |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416044705/https://www.reuters.com/article/bbo-diamondbacks-playerwatch-idUSMTZED5G21XRWK |archive-date=2019-04-16 |url-status=live |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/bbo-diamondbacks-playerwatch-idUSMTZED5G21XRWK}} He hit his first MLB home run on June 18, in the 10th inning of a tie game with the Philadelphia Phillies against Jeanmar Gómez. The Diamondbacks won 5–4.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=370618122|title=Fuentes gets 1st HR in 10th, D-backs beat Phillies 5–4|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN|date=19 June 2017}}

Fuentes was designated for assignment on January 31, 2018, and cleared waivers on February 5.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/02/diamondbacks-outright-rey-fuentes.html|title=Minor MLB Transactions: 2/5/18|last=Adams|first=Steve|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=February 5, 2018|access-date=February 5, 2018}} Fuentes spent the season with the Triple-A Reno Aces, playing in 85 games and hitting .265/.345/.394 with six home runs, 39 RBI, and 10 stolen bases. He elected free agency following the season on November 2.{{Cite web |last=Eddy |first=Matt |date=November 6, 2018 |title=Minor League Free Agents 2018 |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2018/ |access-date=April 30, 2024 |website=Baseball America}}

=Long Island Ducks=

On April 4, 2019, Fuentes signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In 100 games, Fuentes slashed .258/.340/.429 with 14 home runs and 47 RBI. He became a free agent following the season. Fuentes did not play in a game in 2020.

After the 2020 season, he played for Criollos de Caguas of the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente (LBPRC). He has also played for Puerto Rico in the 2021 Caribbean Series.

On May 26, 2021, Fuentes re-signed with the Ducks for the upcoming season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/ducks-win-spring-training-finale-sign-five-players/n-5696981|title=Ducks Win Spring Training Finale, Sign Five Players|date=26 May 2021}} In 22 games, he slashed .222/.355/.349 with two home runs and 11 RBI. Fuentes elected free agency following the season.

International career

Fuentes played for the Puerto Rico national baseball team at the 2011 Baseball World Cup, 2011 Pan American Games, and 2017 World Baseball Classic (WBC).{{Cite web |date= |title=Mundial Beisbol Panama 2011 Roster |url=http://www.mundialbeisbolpanama2011.org.pa/roster_default.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009070409/http://www.mundialbeisbolpanama2011.org.pa/roster_default.aspx |archive-date=2011-10-09 |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=Mundial Beisbol Panama}} In 2017 WBC, he played center field defensively and batted ninth.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/puerto-rico-s-world-baseball-classic-roster-c215455022|title=Young stars join Beltran, Yadi for Puerto Rico|first=Chad|last=Thornburg|work=MLB.com|date=February 8, 2017|access-date=March 14, 2017}} In six games, he batted 2-for-16.{{Cite web |title=WBC Stats {{!}} Puerto Rico 2017 |url=https://www.mlb.com/world-baseball-classic/stats/puerto-rico/games/2017 |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=www.mlb.com |language=en}}

Personal life

Fuentes is the cousin of former MLB All-Star Carlos Beltrán.{{cite web |date=August 26, 2013 |title=Padres select OF Reymond Fuentes and recall RHP Anthony Bass from Triple-A Tucson |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/padres-select-of-fuentes-recall-rhp-bass-from-triple-a/c-58508382 |access-date=26 January 2014 |work=MLB.com |publisher=}} They played together in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.