Sal Fasano

Salvatore Frank Fasano (/fəˈsɑːnoʊ/; born August 10, 1971) is an American former professional baseball catcher, who played for nine different Major League Baseball (MLB) teams over his 11–year big league career. Upon retiring as a player, he became a coach within the Toronto Blue Jays organization between 2010 and 2016. After coaching for a single season within the Los Angeles Angels minor league system, Fasano joined the major league coaching staff of the Atlanta Braves. He currently serves as the assistant pitching coach for the Angels.

Jeff Pearlman of ESPN.com said of Fasano: "When I think of Sal Fasano, however, I think of greatness. Not of Willie Mays or Ted Williams greatness, but of a uniquely excellent human being who, were class and decency the most valued standards of a career, would be the easiest Hall of Fame inductee of all time."

After three seasons in the minor leagues, Fasano made his Major League debut on April 3, 1996, for the Royals. He finished the game 0-for-3 in a 7–1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. He spent the next three seasons splitting catching duties with starter Mike Macfarlane and rising prospect Mike Sweeney. In 1998, he established career highs in at bats (216) and runs batted in (RBIs) (31). He also ranked second in the American League in HBPs with 16. In his first four seasons with the Royals, Fasano batted .219 with 20 home runs and 67 RBI.

The Oakland Athletics acquired Fasano from the Royals in exchange for cash considerations on March 31, 2000. He was named the team's backup catcher behind starter Ramón Hernández. Fasano helped the A's capture the American League West division crown that season, and made his, to date, only post season appearance as a defensive replacement. While with Oakland, Fasano says, he came to realize that many players around him were taking anabolic steroids, and briefly considered following suit, but he decided against it. In 63 total games with the Athletics, Fasano hit .190 with seven home runs and 19 RBI.

On May 22, 2001, the Royals purchased Fasano's contract from the Athletics. He appeared in only three games for the Royals during his second stint, and went hitless in his lone at-bat.

On June 24, 2001, Fasano and Mac Suzuki were traded to the Colorado Rockies for Brent Mayne. In 25 games for the Rockies, Fasano hit .254 with three home runs and 9 RBI.

On January 11, 2002, Fasano signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. and was released on June 1. On June 6, he signed with the Milwaukee Brewers organization. On July 31, Fasano and Alex Ochoa were traded to the Anaheim Angels for Jorge Fabregas and a player to be named later. Fasano played in only two games for the Angels, going 0-for-1 at the plate with a strikeout. On November 4, 2002, he was released by the Angels. He did not play baseball at any level in 2003, and on January 14, 2004, signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees. Fasano appeared in 76 games for the Triple-A Columbus Clippers in 2004, and hit .229 with 10 home runs and 34 RBI.

Fasano was released by the Yankees organization on October 15, 2004. On December 16, he signed with the Baltimore Orioles. Fasano appeared in 64 games for them during the 2005 season, and arguably had the best season of his Major League career, hitting .250 with 11 home runs and 20 RBI. He became a free agent on October 15, 2005.