Julian Fernández signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers in January which included a non-roster invitation to spring training, and the right-hander pitched in the majors for the first time in four
years. He was the 35th of a franchise-record-tying 40 pitchers used by the team in 2025.
The Dodgers media guide noted that Fernández’s nickname “billete” was translated as “the ticket,” and he did in fact punch his ticket back to the majors with Los Angeles. He was the first, and to date the only Julian in Dodgers history.
He was called up on July 7 after a strong stretch of two-plus months in Triple-A Oklahoma City, and pitched the final two innings of a Dodgers loss in Milwaukee on July 7. This was the first of six losses to the Brewers during the regular season, a script that was flipped during the NLCS.
But back to Fernández, he took a ride on the fresh arm express one day after pitching two innings, optioned back to Oklahoma City in favor of Alexis Díaz.
Fernández’s work with the Comets was quite strong, with a 3.05 ERA and four saves in 35 games, and a 28.7-percent strikeout rate with 49 strikeouts against 15 walks in his 41 1/3 innings. Five of his 14 runs allowed with Oklahoma City came on April 4, in his second game with the team.
But he didn’t get the call back to the Dodgers and was designated for assignment on August 15 to make roster room for Mr. 2,000 Buddy Kennedy.
The Nationals claimed Fernández off waivers on August 17, and he split time the rest of the season between Washington D.C. and Triple-A Rochester. He got into three games for the Nationals, allowing one solo home run in three innings with four strikeouts.
2025 particulars
Age: 29
Stats: 1 game, 2 innings, 2 runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout with Dodgers
Salary: unknown
Game of the year
Fernández allowed two runs in two mop-up innings in his only game with the Dodgers, so we’ll use a Triple-A game here instead. On August 1 for Oklahoma City, Fernández retired all six batters he faced as an opener at home against Salt Lake, and struck out a season-high four batters.
Roster status
Fernández is on the Nationals 40-man roster.
