Back on July 8, just three weeks after turning 20 years of age, Didier Fuentes climbed atop the mound for his fourth big-league start. By the time the book was closed on him that night, the Athletics had tagged him for eight earned runs on five hits and two walks.
Fuentes surrendered three homers, one inside the park, and lasted just three batters into the second frame, as things completely unraveled on the inexperienced hurler. He would be sent back to Triple-A following the meltdown, as it was apparent that the Colombian-born prospect simply was not quite ready for the show despite some moments of promise in previous starts.
Didier Fuentes, Nasty 80mph Curveball. 😨
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 20, 2025
1st MLB K pic.twitter.com/TpxcZgQ0GJ
Resilient Fuentes Displaying Potential for Braves in Minor Leagues
The disastrous start left Atlanta fans with yet another question in a season chock-full of them: Had the Braves’ brass made another terrible decision and drained the confidence of such a young pitcher? Could Fuentes rebound?
Fuentes did not immediately hit the ground running after his demotion to Gwinnett. In his first two starts sandwiched around the All-Star break, he surrendered seven runs on 11 hits in a total of 6 2/3 innings. It did not look good, and his confidence appeared shaken. The spiral was short-lived, however, as Fuentes has recently turned a corner.
To close the month of July, Fuentes dominated in a start on the road at Triple-A Memphis, limiting the Redbirds to one run on only two hits and one walk across five frames. Fuentes matched his season high with nine punchouts in the effort.
Didier was dino-mite on Dino Night
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) August 2, 2025
6.0 IP | 4 H | 0 R | 0 ER | 1 BB | 7 SO pic.twitter.com/CgAeQzI5un
For his follow-up performance this past Saturday, Fuentes fired six shutout innings against the Durham Bulls, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out seven. The rocket-armed righty was topping out near 98 mph with his heater and induced 15 swinging strikes (17.8%). For those unfamiliar with the measure, that’s an elite rate.
Fuentes is showing his moxy, and it points to a potentially phenomenal future. Fortunately, there’s no need to question what the kid is made of, regardless of the organization’s seemingly dubious handling of him.