In 1997, Alex Fernandez went back to his hometown of Miami Beach, becoming the last key player in South Florida’s first championship team. Following seven successful seasons in Chicago, the right-hander added veteran composure and a powerful fastball to a Marlins rotation that quickly gained national attention.
In 1997, Fernandez led the rotation with Kevin Brown and Al Leiter. He posted a 17-12 record, a 3.59 ERA, and 183 strikeouts, establishing himself as the high-leverage pitcher the organization expected when they signed him to a then-record deal. His season was marked by a remarkable performance at Wrigley Field in April, where he was just two outs shy of a no-hitter before settling for a dominant one-hit shutout. He was the key driver for a team that advanced to the postseason, winning the NLDS and helping the franchise reach its first National League Championship Series.
After being chased early in an NLCS start against the Braves, Fernandez was found to have been pitching with a torn rotator cuff. While his teammates famously won the 1997 World Series, Fernandez was more of a spectator in the dugout, observing from the sidelines as he prepared for a difficult surgery. His career was completely halted during the 1998 season, making him one of the few veterans to survive the notorious "fire sale" that broke up the championship team.
Fernandez returned to the mound in 1999, authoring a deceptively strong 3.38 ERA over 24 starts and proving there was still life in his arm. Yet the physical toll of his 1997 workload proved too great; after eight starts in 2000, the shoulder issues sealed his decision to step away from the game.
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