He’s a ‘grinder’ & ‘relentless.’ And after Salvy, he’s the longest tenured Royal
Freddy Fermin pointed toward the sky in celebration. With one swing, Fermin had just delivered the Kansas City Royals an important victory.
Fermin didn’t start Tuesday’s game against the Colorado Rockies. But he made the biggest impact on the field.
He made a terrific defensive play that resulted in a pickoff at third base. Then, he lined a walk-off single in the 11th inning.
Kauffman Stadium was in chaos. Fermin was met with a large bear hug from Royals teammate Vinnie Pasquantino as he rounded first base. Royals fans chanted “Freddy” from the stands. It was an exhilarating moment for an unsung hero.
“I think they are the most important here,” Fermin said. “When they start chanting ‘Freddy,’ that’s motivation for us and not just for me. I felt really cool. That’s motivation. They help us to win and they support us.”
Fermin, affectionately known as “The Ferminator,” has been in the Royals organization since 2015. He is the second-longest tenured Royal, on the active roster, behind Salvador Perez.
But to understand Fermin’s big-league plight with the Royals, one must first head to the local ball fields in Venezuela.
From Venezuela to Kansas City
At 5 years old, Fermin dreamed of playing professional sports. He was good at soccer and loved scoring goals.
But baseball was his true calling. Fermin wanted to reach the big leagues and follow in the footsteps of Venezuelan-born MLB greats like Dave Concepcion, Omar Vizquel and Miguel Cabrera.
Fermin remembers the early days well: the bright mornings in the backyard with his father playing catch and taking swings.
He loved every moment.
“My dad took me to the park, somewhere a little space outside my home,” Fermin said. “He started throwing me the ball and I started swinging. And I started off with baseball.”
Fermin continued to develop his love for the game. He didn’t start out as a catcher. Instead, he lined up at second base and took routine ground balls with ease.
One day that all changed. Fermin volunteered to learn a new position. His youth coaches were looking for someone to catch.
Fermin hustled behind the plate. He impressed with his defensive instincts and found his new home.
“When I was a kid, I had the ability to catch,” Fermin said. “I blocked really well and I threw really well.”
It takes mental fortitude to be a catcher. Fermin learned quickly that hard work was a requirement, so he dove into the intricacies of catching. He learned how to call a game, handle a pitching staff and save defensive runs.
MLB scouts began to dig deeper. Fermin landed on the radar of multiple teams. He attended showcases and tryouts.
However, a few teams had concerns about his lack of size. Fermin is listed at 5-foot-10 and wasn’t considered a top prospect.
If he were to make his MLB dreams a reality, he needed someone to advocate on his behalf.
Enter Royals international scout Joelvis Gonzalez.
Gonzalez pushed for the Royals to sign Fermin. He saw Fermin’s intangibles and special talent on the field.
“He told the Royals, I’m going to sign him,” Fermin recalled. “I went to the Dominican Republic and he gave me a chance with the organization.”
Becoming Salvy’s backup
The Royals signed Fermin on July 25, 2015. He was an international free agent and joined the Royals for less than $10,000. One year later, Fermin was assigned to the Dominican Summer League (DSL) team.
It was a steep adjustment. Fermin played with the DSL team before spending two seasons in rookie ball.
As he learned on the field, Fermin also faced a language barrier. The Royals helped him learn English to better communicate with teammates.
“It’s really hard when you don’t know English,” Fermin said. “I just kept learning and kept working on something that can help you. So that was my mentality.”
Fermin has become proficient in English. He was awarded with the 2019 Carlos Fortuna Award, given annually to a Royals minor league player who is dedicated to improving his English.
And Fermin continued to surge through the minor-league system. He matriculated through every level and made his MLB debut in 2022.
“I think the thing with Freddy is that he was never thought of as a high-level prospect,” Royals assistant general manager Scott Sharp said. “But he just outworked everyone. He was a tireless worker and wanted to continue on and off the field learning English, working on his baseball skills and being a teammate.
“You know those things are not often rewarded, but in this case they certainly were. That allowed his talent to come through. And people root for that.”
The Royals paired Fermin with fellow countryman Salvador Perez. He became Perez’s backup during the 2023 season.
The duo share a strong relationship. Perez is Fermin’s mentor and they frequently work together to help guide the pitching staff. The Royals are comfortable allowing Perez to play first base and be a designated hitter because Fermin can handle the catching duties.
“Every day, he comes here asking questions and wanting to learn,” Perez said. “He works hard. You never know, he could be the first (starting) catcher in Kansas City in a couple of years.”
Fermin deeply respects Perez. It’s not easy playing behind a future Hall of Famer, but he looks up to Perez as a true legend in the game.
“It’s an honor for me to be around the legend Salvador Perez,” Fermin said. “He helped me and he taught me a lot of things inside and outside of baseball. He is a great person. I have respect for him and want to keep learning.”
Around the clubhouse, the Royals believe Fermin could be a full-time starter. They are fortunate to have him on the active roster as the backup.
“The first thing I learned is he can really play,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “We see what he does defensively and he had a really good last year offensively. Most of the time, if you have a backup catcher, he is going to be a really good team guy. Freddy has the best of both worlds. He can really play and he is a great team guy.”
Freddy Fermin’s development
Fermin continues to develop each year. He was a 2024 Gold Glove Award finalist after leading American League catchers with eight runners caught stealing above average, an advanced MLB stat.
“To be a finalist is one thing, but to be the finalist when you are the backup to a Hall of Famer takes it to a whole different level,” bench coach Paul Hoover said. “… For his peers, coaches and writers to notice him backing up Salvador Perez is pretty special.”
Still, Fermin has persevered through it all.
“It just shows a lot about his character,” Sharp said. “He is a grinder and he is relentless. He is all those adjectives and he wants to play in the major leagues. That’s what he wants to do and he committed his whole life to doing it. Now that he is here, he is not going to let it go.”
Fermin started by studying under Royals minor-league catching coordinator J.C. Boscan and Chino Cadahia, Royals special assistant to the GM/player development. Now, he is at the forefront of a journey that’s filled with worthwhile experiences.
He is living his dream of a big-league player and doing so with an organization that truly believes in him.
“He signed a long time ago and had to work for everything he has gotten,” Hoover said. “And credit to him. That’s why he is who he is now because he had to fight through adversity his whole career.”
Fermin doesn’t take anything for granted. He enjoys playing video games with his teammates and spending time with his two frenchies: Chocolate and Perla.
And he shares each moment with his family and friends.
“Thank you to this organization for giving me the opportunity to play as a pro,” Fermin said. “I’m very happy and it feels like my second home.”
