Fermin went 2-for-3 with one double and one run in Sunday's win against the White Sox.
Fermin has totaled 15 at-bats with two runs and three hits over five games played as the main backup to starting catcher Salvador Perez. The 28-year-old hasn't built upon his solid .782 OPS from the 2023 campaign, as Fermin has just a .467 OPS through the small sample this year.
Royals' Freddy Fermin: Projected as backup catcher
Rotowire
Fermin is projected to be the Royals' backup catcher to begin 2024, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
The Royals recently signed Austin Nola, but he's viewed as an experienced depth option. Fermin has gone 1-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout over two Cactus League games. With Salvador Perez in the latter half of his career, it wouldn't be surprising to see Fermin shoulder more of the workload behind the dish, which could see Perez take more games at first base or designated hitter.
Fermin (finger) was transferred to the 60-day injured list from the 10-day IL on Monday.
The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for fellow catcher Tyler Cropley, whose contract was selected from Omaha. Fermin had already been ruled out for the season following surgery last week to repair a fractured left middle finger.
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Royals' Freddy Fermin: Season over after finger surgery
Rotowire
Fermin underwent season-ending surgery Tuesday to repair a fractured left middle finger, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Fermin suffered the injury last Friday on a catcher's interference call. He is certainly done for the season, but the hope is that he will be fully healthy by the time spring training rolls around. It's an unfortunate ending to what has been a nice season for Fermin, who batted .281/.321/.461 with nine home runs over 235 plate appearances in 2023. The 28-year-old has positioned himself to open 2024 as Salvador Perez's backup again, or perhaps even take over as starter if the Royals decide to trade Perez over the winter.
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Royals' Freddy Fermin: Out with broken finger
Rotowire
Fermin was placed on the 10-day injured list with a fractured left middle finger Saturday.
The Royals haven't given a timeline for Fermin's return, but given the timing, the injury seemingly has a good chance of being season-ending. If that's the case, Fermin will end the year with a .281/.321/.461 line in 70 games, good for a 107 wRC+. Tyler Cropley was called up to take his place on the roster and provide additional catching depth.
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Royals' Freddy Fermin: Sits after four straight starts
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Fermin is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.
Fermin appeared to be losing out on playing time as August came to a close, but he started each of the past four games behind the plate, going 5-for-15 with a double, a walk, two RBI and a run scored over that stretch. Salvador Perez will be behind the dish Sunday, but the Royals could continue to open up more starts at catcher for Fermin by deploying Perez at either first base or designated hitter.
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Royals' Freddy Fermin: Losing out on playing time
Rotowire
Fermin is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners.
Fermin seems to have moved into more of a part-time role of late, as he'll hit the bench for the third time in seven games while he's slashed a paltry .107/.129/.143 since Aug. 15. With Salvador Perez picking up more playing time behind the dish rather than at first base or designated hitter of late, Matt Beaty has been gaining more traction in the Royals' everyday lineup.
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Royals' Freddy Fermin: Hits bench Tuesday
Rotowire
Fermin is not in the lineup Tuesday versus the Athletics.
Fermin will sit for the second time in the past three games. Prior to that, he had made four consecutive starts, going 3-for-10. With Nick Pratto still on the injured list, Salvador Perez will move back to catcher Tuesday and Matt Duffy will start at first base.
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Royals' Freddy Fermin: Receives Sunday off
Rotowire
Fermin is out of the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Cubs.
Fermin worked behind the plate the previous three games and will receive a day off after going 3-for-10 with a double, a walk and two RBI. Salvador Perez will move back to catcher while Matt Beaty starts at first base.
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Royals' Freddy Fermin: Goes to bench Wednesday
Rotowire
Fermin is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mariners.
With Matt Beaty picking up more starts at first base of late, Salvador Perez has been playing more frequently behind the dish. Fermin has found himself getting squeezed out of the lineup of late as a result, as he'll now take a seat for the third time in five games. Fermin is still holding down an .847 OPS in August, so he shouldn't be completely phased out of the lineup while he remains one of the Royals' hotter hitters.
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Royals' Freddy Fermin: Homers in Wednesday's loss
Rotowire
Fermin went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Red Sox.
Fermin is 9-for-28 (.321) with three homers, two doubles and five RBI over seven games in August. With Salvador Perez seeing more time at first base, Fermin has been able to carve out a larger role behind the plate. The catcher is slashing a strong .303/.339/.542 with nine long balls, 27 RBI, 22 runs scored, eight doubles and a triple over 166 plate appearances this season, suggesting his recent success is more than a flash in a pan. That said, Fermin has a .342 BABIP on the year, so he's also had a decent share of good luck.
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Royals' Freddy Fermin: Running hot at plate
Rotowire
Fermin went 2-for-4 with a double in Sunday's 8-4 loss to the Phillies.
Fermin closed out the weekend with a fourth consecutive two-hit game, and he's now slashing a blistering .388/.404/.714 with four home runs, eight RBI and 11 runs in 13 games since the All-Star break. An injury to Nick Pratto (groin) along with his own hot bat has allowed Fermin to take hold of a regular spot in the lineup alongside veteran catcher Salvador Perez, who has been seeing more time at first base and designated hitter of late. Perez is out of the lineup Monday in Boston due to what appears to be a minor hand injury, so Matt Beaty will fill in at first base while Fermin bats sixth and settles in behind the plate for what will be his fifth consecutive start.
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Royals' Freddy Fermin: Smacks two homers Saturday
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Fermin went 2-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs in Saturday's 9-6 loss to the Phillies.
Fermin continues to sizzle in the second half of the season, with the pair of home runs giving him four since the All-Star break and bringing his OPS up to 1.107 in the second half. While Nick Pratto (groin) has been on the injured list, the Royals have made room for both Fermin and Salvador Perez in the lineup, with the latter usually occupying Pratto's spot at first base. However, Perez will get a turn behind the dish in Sunday's series finale while Fermin serves as the Royals' designated hitter.
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Royals' Freddy Fermin: Takes seat Wednesday
Rotowire
Fermin is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mets.
Fermin will head to the bench after he served as the Royals' starting catcher in four of the past five games. Salvador Perez, who started at first base and designated hitter in the last two contests, will move behind the plate Wednesday.
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Royals' Freddy Fermin: Goes deep in Sunday's win
Rotowire
Fermin went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Sunday's win over the Twins.
Fermin blasted a 420 foot shot to left center field off Kenta Maeda in the second inning for his second home run in his last four games. The long ball also extended his hitting streak to a modest six games, a stretch during which he's recorded multi-hit efforts four times. Fermin is now up to a slash line of .299/.346/.504 with 13 extra-base hits, 22 RBI and 16 runs in 137 plate appearances and should continue to see the bulk of his starts behind the dish.
