Casey Fien
A journeyman reliever who battled his way to a seven-year MLB career with a deceptive fastball and relentless work ethic.
Born 1983 (age 43)·American baseball player·Birthday: October 21·Millennials
Biography
Casey Fien's baseball story is one of quiet resilience. Drafted out of Cal Poly Pomona, he spent years grinding in the minors, his path to the majors anything but linear. When he finally stuck with the Minnesota Twins in 2012, he became a revelation in their bullpen. With a compact delivery and a fastball that seemed to jump on hitters, Fien posted remarkably low walk rates and became a trusted setup man. He wasn't a flamethrower, but his precision and competitive fire made him effective. His career took him across five organizations, a classic middle-inning reliever who provided stability. Fien's longevity, forged from adaptability and mental toughness, is a blueprint for surviving baseball's toughest job.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Casey was born in 1983, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Casey Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Casey's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 40
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Pitched seven seasons in Major League Baseball, appearing in 297 games, all in relief.
- Posted a stellar 1.06 WHIP across 214 innings for the Minnesota Twins from 2012 to 2015.
- Recorded a career-best 3.92 strikeout-to-walk ratio during the 2013 season.
- Finished his career with a 4.05 ERA and 228 strikeouts over 262.1 major league innings.
Did You Know?
He was originally drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 20th round of the 2006 MLB Draft.
In 2012, he began the season with the Twins' Triple-A affiliate and did not allow an earned run in 16 appearances before his promotion.
He and his wife, Lyndsey, are both graduates of Cal Poly Pomona.
“I got outs with one pitch, a fastball that didn't quit, and a stubborn will.”
