Erick Fedde

Erick Fedde Bio

Erick James Fedde (born February 25, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Las Vegas, Nevada native has built a career spanning multiple organizations in MLB along with a standout season in the KBO League. Fedde was selected 18th overall by the Washington Nationals in the 2014 MLB Draft and made his major league debut in 2017. His career took a dramatic turn in 2023 when he dominated the Korean baseball circuit, winning the KBO Triple Crown and league MVP honors before returning to MLB with renewed prominence.

Early Life and Background

Erick James Fedde was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. He attended Las Vegas High School in Sunrise Manor, Nevada, where he excelled as both a pitcher and outfielder. His high school career gained extra attention when teammate Bryce Harper, who served as catcher, went on to become the top overall pick in the 2010 MLB Draft. Harper would later become Fedde’s teammate with the Washington Nationals organization, creating a unique full-circle connection from their amateur days.

Following his graduation from Las Vegas High School, Fedde was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 24th round of the 2011 MLB Draft. He chose not to sign and instead pursued his collegiate career at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), where he continued developing his pitching craft at the Rebels program.

Path to Professional Baseball

At UNLV, Fedde quickly established himself as a formidable collegiate pitcher. As a freshman in 2012, he started 15 games and posted a 6-5 record with a 3.59 earned run average and 66 strikeouts across 90 and one-third innings. He duplicated that consistency as a sophomore in 2013, again making 15 starts while going 7-5 with a 3.92 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 96 and one-third innings.

During the summer of 2013, Fedde represented the United States collegiate national team and briefly played in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox, one of the premier amateur summer leagues in the country. In his first start of the 2014 season, he struck out a career-high 11 batters while allowing only one hit, signaling his potential as a professional. However, his collegiate career took a significant setback when he underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2014, prematurely ending his final college season. Despite the injury, he finished the abbreviated campaign with an impressive 8-2 record and 1.76 ERA alongside 82 strikeouts in 76 and two-thirds innings.

Erick Fedde Career

Washington Nationals (2017–2022)

Fedde entered the 2014 MLB Draft as a top prospect and was selected 18th overall by the Washington Nationals. He signed with the team on July 18, 2014, for a signing bonus of $2.51 million. The elbow injury he sustained in college prevented him from playing during the 2014 season entirely. He began his professional journey in 2015, splitting time between the Auburn Doubledays and the Hagerstown Suns, where he combined for a 5-3 record and 3.38 ERA across both affiliates.

Fedde began the 2016 season with the Potomac Nationals and earned a promotion to the Harrisburg Senators in August, finishing the year with an 8-5 record and a 3.12 ERA. The Nationals’ 2017 season presented an unexpected opportunity when the bullpen struggled during the first half, leading the team to convert Fedde to a relief role temporarily. He was promoted from Double-A Harrisburg to Triple-A Syracuse on June 13, 2017, and after less than a month, he was switched back to a starting role. This move proved crucial as the Nationals lost Joe Ross to a torn UCL and saw Stephen Strasburg miss time due to a nerve impingement.

Fedde received his call to the majors and debuted by starting the first game of a double-header against the Colorado Rockies on July 30, 2017. Over subsequent seasons, he steadily improved his craft, posting a 4.50 ERA with a career-high 78 innings pitched in 2019. The Nationals won the 2019 World Series that year, though Fedde did not pitch in the postseason. His 2021 season saw him accumulate a 7-9 record with 128 strikeouts across 133 and one-third innings, followed by a 6-13 record and 5.81 ERA in 2022. On November 18, 2022, the Nationals non-tendered Fedde, making him a free agent. He finished his Nationals tenure with a cumulative 21-33 record and 5.41 ERA across five seasons.

NC Dinos Breakthrough (2023)

Following his release from Washington, Fedde received only minor league contract offers from MLB organizations. He signed with the NC Dinos of the KBO League on a one-year contract worth the maximum $1 million allowed for foreign players. The move to South Korea proved transformative for his career trajectory.

Fedde was named a KBO All-Star during the 2023 season and delivered a dominant performance across 30 starts. He registered a remarkable 20-6 record with a 2.00 ERA and 209 strikeouts in 180 and one-third innings pitched. He accomplished the rare pitching Triple Crown by leading the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts. Most notably, Fedde became the first foreign pitcher in KBO history to record 20 wins and more than 200 strikeouts in a single season, establishing himself as one of the most dominant pitchers in the league that year.

Following his exceptional campaign, Fedde received two of the KBO’s highest honors: the Choi Dong-won Award, which serves as the Korean baseball equivalent of the Cy Young Award, and the KBO League Most Valuable Player Award. These accolades marked a remarkable turnaround for a pitcher who had struggled in his previous MLB stint and received only minor league offers just one year prior.

Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, and Milwaukee Brewers (2024–2025)

Fedde’s KBO success earned him another opportunity in MLB. On December 13, 2023, he signed a two-year, $15 million contract with the Chicago White Sox. In his return to the major leagues, Fedde showcased improved stuff and composure, compiling a 7-4 record with a 3.11 ERA and 108 strikeouts across 121 and two-thirds innings in 21 starts during the 2024 season.

On July 29, 2024, the White Sox traded Fedde to the St. Louis Cardinals as part of a three-team deal that also involved the Los Angeles Dodgers. He made 10 starts down the stretch for St. Louis, posting a 2-5 record with a 3.72 ERA and 46 strikeouts across 55 and two-thirds innings. The 2025 season brought additional changes and milestones for Fedde, including a memorable complete-game shutout against his former team, the Washington Nationals, on May 9, 2025.

However, his time with the Cardinals proved challenging as he compiled a 3-10 record and 5.22 ERA with 63 strikeouts in 101 and two-thirds innings across 20 appearances. The Cardinals designated him for assignment on July 23, 2025. Three days later, on July 27, 2025, St. Louis traded him to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Fedde struggled significantly with Atlanta, going 1-2 with an 8.10 ERA in five appearances (four starts) across 23 and one-third innings before being released on August 24, 2025.

Fedde caught on with the Milwaukee Brewers on August 27, 2025, signing a one-year contract. He made seven appearances for Milwaukee, logging an 0-1 record with a 3.38 ERA and seven strikeouts over 16 innings. The Brewers designated him for assignment on September 28, and after clearing waivers, he was sent outright to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds on September 30. He elected free agency on October 18, 2025, becoming available for other MLB organizations.

Chicago White Sox Second Stint (2026–Present)

Following his journeyman season across multiple organizations, Fedde returned to familiar ground. On February 10, 2026, he signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Chicago White Sox, marking his second stint with the team. This contract represented a significant pay cut from his previous $15 million deal, reflecting his desire to rebuild his value with a single organization. Through June 24, 2026, Fedde has accumulated 36 career wins against 61 losses with a 4.89 ERA and 639 strikeouts across his MLB career spanning multiple teams.

Driving Style and Strengths

Fedde operates as a ground-ball specialist who consistently works deep into games and eats innings for his rotation. His KBO transformation demonstrated an improved strikeout ability and refined pitch sequencing that he has carried back into his MLB work. His experience spanning multiple organizations and leagues has provided him with adaptability and a varied approach to different lineups.

Notable Events and Milestones

His most celebrated achievement remains his 2023 KBO campaign, where he became the first foreign pitcher to achieve a 20-win, 200-strikeout season in league history. His complete-game shutout against the Nationals on May 9, 2025, stands as a personal milestone. He was also part of the Nationals organization during their 2019 World Series championship season, though he did not appear in the postseason.

Erick Fedde Career Wins

Across his professional career spanning Major League Baseball and the KBO League, Fedde has accumulated significant win totals in both competitions. His MLB career has yielded 36 wins against 61 losses, while his single dominant season in Korea produced 20 wins against only 6 losses with an exceptionally low 2.00 ERA. The contrast between his MLB struggles and his KBO dominance illustrates the impact of adaptation and environment on pitcher performance.

KBO League Highlights

Fedde’s 2023 season with the NC Dinos stands as the defining stretch of his professional career. In 30 starts, he went 20-6 with a 2.00 ERA and 209 strikeouts in 180 and one-third innings. He led the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts, achieving the rare pitching Triple Crown. His 20 wins and 209 strikeouts made him the first foreign pitcher in KBO history to reach both thresholds in a single season, accomplishments that earned him both the Choi Dong-won Award and the KBO League MVP Award. The transformation from a pitcher who received only minor league offers to the most dominant pitcher in Korea occurred over the course of one transformative season.

MLB Highlights

At the MLB level, Fedde’s most productive seasons came with the Chicago White Sox in 2024, where he posted a 7-4 record with a 3.11 ERA in 21 starts, and his final season with the Nationals in 2022, when he made 27 starts and compiled a 6-13 record despite a challenging 5.81 ERA. His complete-game shutout against Washington on May 9, 2025, provided one of his most memorable MLB moments. He has accumulated 639 career strikeouts across his MLB tenure through mid-2026.

Erick Fedde Family

Personal Life

Fedde was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he also attended high school before embarking on his collegiate career at UNLV. He maintains a public profile on Instagram under the handle @erickfedde. Details regarding his family, marital status, or children have not been publicly disclosed as part of his private personal life.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season represented one of the most turbulent periods of Fedde’s professional career. After beginning the year with the St. Louis Cardinals following his mid-season trade from Chicago, he experienced significant struggles that led to a 3-10 record and 5.22 ERA across 20 appearances. His tenure with St. Louis included the emotional milestone of pitching a complete-game shutout against his former Nationals teammates on May 9, 2025, a performance that temporarily suggested a potential turnaround.

However, the Cardinals ultimately designated Fedde for assignment on July 23, reflecting their decision to move in a different direction. His subsequent trade to the Atlanta Braves did not produce the desired results, as he posted an 8.10 ERA in limited action before his release in late August. The Brewers signed him as roster depth but used him primarily in a relief capacity, resulting in limited appearances and an eventual outright assignment to Triple-A Nashville.

Following the season, Fedde elected free agency with the goal of securing a more stable opportunity for 2026. His eventual return to the Chicago White Sox on a one-year contract represented both a fresh start and a chance to rebuild value with a franchise familiar with his abilities. The journey through five organizations in a two-year span highlighted the volatility of a pitcher’s career path following even a career-defining season like his 2023 KBO campaign.