Fernando Abad
A crafty left-handed reliever who carved out a decade-long MLB career by mastering the art of getting lefty hitters out for nine different teams.
Born 1985 (age 41)·Dominican baseball pitcher·Birthday: December 17·Millennials
Biography
Fernando Abad's baseball story is a testament to the value of a specialized skill. The Dominican left-hander, born in 1985, signed with the Houston Astros and made his major league debut in 2010. He didn't possess an overpowering fastball, but he developed a sharp slider and a deceptive delivery that proved lethal against left-handed batters. This made him a valuable commodity as a lefty specialist, a role he filled for a remarkable nine different MLB teams over ten seasons. His most effective stretch came with the Oakland Athletics and Minnesota Twins, where he posted some of the lowest ERAs of his career. Abad's journey is the classic baseball odyssey: the suitcase always half-packed, moving from bullpen to bullpen, always ready for that one crucial matchup. His longevity speaks to his consistency and the universal need for a pitcher who can neutralize the other team's best left-handed power threat.
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.
Fernando was born in 1985, 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 Fernando Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Fernando's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
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
2003Could vote
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Pitched in Major League Baseball for ten consecutive seasons from 2010 to 2019.
- Appeared in games for nine different MLB franchises, showcasing remarkable adaptability.
- Posted a stellar 2.65 ERA over 62 appearances for the Oakland Athletics in the 2014 season.
Did You Know?
He was signed by the Houston Astros as an amateur free agent in 2002.
In 2016, he was traded from the Minnesota Twins to the Boston Red Sox mid-season and pitched in the American League Division Series.
After his MLB career, he continued playing professionally in the Dominican Winter League and the Mexican League.
“My job is to get that one left-handed hitter out in the seventh inning.”
