Freddy Fermin 2025: Net Worth, Career Earnings, Contract, Salary

Freddy Fermin has established himself as a valuable catcher for the Kansas City Royals, showcasing impressive defensive skills behind the plate and consistent batting performance.

The Venezuelan-born player has transformed from an unheralded international signing in 2015 to becoming an integral part of the Royals’ roster in 2025. Known for his exceptional arm strength and ability to throw out baserunners, Fermin has earned respect throughout the league for his defensive prowess.

As he continues his MLB journey in 2025, Fermin’s story represents the determination and perseverance required to succeed in professional baseball, particularly for international players who often face a challenging path to the major leagues.

Freddy Fermin’s Biography

Early Career

Freddy Fermin’s baseball journey began when he signed with the Kansas City Royals organization as an international free agent on July 25, 2015. Unlike many high-profile international signings that receive significant bonuses and media attention, Fermin entered professional baseball with little fanfare.

His professional career officially began the following year with the Dominican Summer League Royals, where he displayed promise by hitting .273 across 52 games. This initial showing gave the Royals organization a glimpse of his potential, particularly his ability to make consistent contact at the plate.

In 2017, Fermin made the move to the United States, joining the rookie-level Idaho Falls Chukars of the Pioneer League. During this season, he demonstrated solid plate discipline by posting a .282 batting average with an impressive .403 on-base percentage across 47 games.

While he only hit one home run that season, he showed his ability to drive in runs with 39 RBIs, suggesting that even without power numbers, he could be a productive offensive player. His performance indicated that he was adapting well to professional baseball in the United States, a crucial transition for many international players.

The 2018 season saw Fermin split time between two rookie-level teams – returning to Idaho Falls for part of the season and also spending time with the Burlington Royals. Across these two stops, he posted a combined .249/.346/.350 slash line with 2 home runs and 19 RBIs in what represented a slight step back from his previous season statistically. Nevertheless, the organization continued to value his development behind the plate, particularly his defensive skills that were becoming more refined with each season.

Fermin’s progression through the minor league system continued in 2019 when he split the season between the Single-A Lexington Legends and the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals. This season marked a significant step forward in his development, as he displayed newfound power at the plate.

Across 86 games between the two levels, Fermin hit .260/.298/.418 with career highs in home runs (12) and RBIs (41). His promotion to Double-A, typically considered one of the most challenging jumps in minor league baseball, demonstrated the organization’s growing confidence in his abilities.

Like many minor league players, Fermin’s career progression was interrupted in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This forced stoppage meant a full year away from competitive baseball at a critical stage in his development. However, Fermin appeared to use the time effectively, as he returned in 2021 showing continued improvement.

The 2021 season saw Fermin split time between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers, placing him just one step away from the major leagues. His performance across these two levels – a .277/.355/.440 slash line with 10 home runs and 47 RBIs in 77 games – demonstrated that he was continuing to develop as an all-around player. His promotion to Triple-A was particularly significant, as it placed him on the doorstep of fulfilling his major league dreams.

Entering the 2022 season, Fermin was assigned to Triple-A Omaha, where he continued to develop his skills while awaiting a potential major league opportunity. That opportunity would come sooner than perhaps expected, as circumstances within the organization created an opening for Fermin to get his first taste of major league action in July 2022. His journey from an unheralded international signing to the cusp of the major leagues had taken seven years of steady development and perseverance through the Royals’ farm system.

Professional Career

Freddy Fermin’s major league journey began unexpectedly on July 14, 2022, when the Kansas City Royals selected him to the 40-man roster and called him up to the majors after multiple players were placed on the restricted list prior to a series in Canada against the Toronto Blue Jays.

This circumstance provided Fermin with his long-awaited opportunity to make his MLB debut, which came on July 15, 2022. His first stint in the majors was brief – just three games – and he went hitless in seven at-bats before being removed from the 40-man roster and returned to Triple-A Omaha on July 17, 2022.

Though his initial major league experience was short and without statistical success, the Royals organization clearly valued Fermin’s potential. On November 15, 2022, they selected his contract back to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, a significant indication of their belief in his future with the organization.

Despite this vote of confidence, Fermin was optioned to Triple-A Omaha to begin the 2023 season, as the Royals had veteran Salvador Perez entrenched as their primary catcher.

The 2023 season proved to be Fermin’s true breakthrough at the major league level. After starting the season in Triple-A, he received multiple opportunities with the major league club throughout the season. Over 70 games, Fermin demonstrated that he belonged in the majors, posting an impressive .281 batting average with a .321 on-base percentage and .461 slugging percentage.

He connected for 9 home runs and drove in 32 runs, showing that his power development in the minor leagues was translating to the highest level. His OPS of .782 was particularly impressive for a catcher, especially one in his first substantial major league action.

A highlight of Fermin’s 2023 season came in August when he clubbed two home runs in a single game against the Philadelphia Phillies, marking the first multi-homer game of his career.

This performance was part of a hot streak where he recorded seven multi-hit efforts in a ten-game stretch, during which he hit an astounding .472. His consistent performance at the plate earned him more regular playing time, even as he served primarily as the backup to Salvador Perez.

Unfortunately, Fermin’s promising 2023 campaign was cut short when he suffered a left middle finger fracture in September, which landed him on the injured list. The injury was significant enough that he was eventually transferred from the 10-day to the 60-day injured list, ending his season prematurely. Despite this setback, his overall performance had established him as a legitimate major league player.

The 2024 season saw Fermin begin the year as the Royals’ regular backup catcher behind Salvador Perez, a role that reflected the organization’s growing confidence in his abilities. Fermin continued to build on his solid 2023 performance, appearing in 111 games and posting a .271 batting average with a .319 on-base percentage and .366 slugging percentage. He connected for 6 home runs, drove in 36 runs, and even added 2 stolen bases to his statistical profile.

Beyond his offensive contributions, Fermin truly distinguished himself defensively in 2024. He emerged as one of the premier defensive catchers in baseball, leading all catchers in Caught Steals Above Average with a 0.27 mark. His exceptional pop time, quick exchange, and strong arm strength made him an elite defensive asset.

He also ranked highly in Blocks Above Average per game and showed improvement in pitch framing, ranking in the 61st percentile league-wide. These defensive metrics, combined with his solid offensive production, contributed to him accumulating a 2.99 WAR (Wins Above Replacement) for the 2024 season – an excellent figure for a player who wasn’t even the primary starter at his position.

His defensive excellence and offensive consistency made him an important contributor to the Royals’ success in 2024. Manager Matt Quatraro valued Fermin’s ability to handle the pitching staff and his work with young pitchers, many of whom he had caught during their time together in the minor leagues. This rapport with the pitching staff, combined with his elite throwing arm, made him an ideal complement to Salvador Perez behind the plate.

Entering the 2025 season, Fermin continued in his role with the Royals, signing a one-year contract worth $781,750. The early part of the 2025 season (through April 5) saw Fermin appear in 5 games, including 2 starts at catcher. While he had yet to record his first hit of the season in his first 10 at-bats, his value to the team remained evident through his defensive contributions and his established track record of offensive production over the previous two seasons.

Freddy Fermin’s Net Worth Details

Freddy Fermin’s net worth is estimated to be $11,538 as of 2025.

Contract

For the 2025 MLB season, Freddy Fermin signed a one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals worth $781,750. This represents a pre-arbitration contract, as Fermin had accumulated 1.165 years of service time heading into the 2025 season.

According to his contract timeline, Fermin will be eligible for arbitration after the 2025 season, potentially leading to salary increases in subsequent years if he continues to perform well.

Salary

Fermin’s 2025 base salary of $781,750 represents a modest increase from his 2024 salary of $744,500. This reflects the typical salary progression for pre-arbitration players in Major League Baseball. His 2025 salary accounts for approximately 0.32% of the Kansas City Royals’ team payroll.

As a pre-arbitration player, Fermin’s salary is largely determined by the team rather than through negotiation, though it does follow the MLB’s collective bargaining agreement regarding minimum salaries and service time.

Career Earnings

MLB Career Stats