Former Wood Duck Pete Fairbanks Makes MLB Debut for Rangers

Kinston, N.C. - After beginning the year in Advanced-A Down East, Peter Fairbanks has rapidly climbed the ranks of the Rangers organization, making his MLB debut for Texas yesterday, facing the Oakland Athletics.

Fairbanks fired two scoreless innings for the Rangers, striking out three, and throwing 17 of his 21 pitches for strikes. The right-hander entered in the fifth inning, striking out the side, fanning Matt Olsen, Chad Pinder, and
Ramón Laureano. He came back out for the sixth inning, and after allowing a runner to reach on an error, he rolled a double-play ball to end the inning.
Fairbanks becomes the sixth Wood Duck to make the major leagues, and second this weekend, joining Joe Palumbo , who started game one of the Rangers double-header against the A's on Saturday.
The St. Louis, Missouri native began the season with Down East, after missing the entire 2018 season due to Tommy John surgery, the second of his career. This year for the Wood Ducks Fairbanks went 1-0, with a 2.92 ERA in 11 appearances, converting two saves. He struck out 15 and walked just four over 12.1 innings. Fairbanks was promoted to Double-A Frisco on May 9, and then again bumped up a level to Triple-A Nashville, May 29, before being called up by the Rangers on Saturday.
Fairbanks overall this season has combined to strike out 36 in 23 innings of work, while allowing just 20 baserunners, over his three minor-league stops.
A 9th round draft pick out of the University of Missouri in 2015, Fairbanks spent the first year of his professional career as a starter, before transitioning to the bullpen in Hickory in 2016. He then started his 2017 campaign with the Woodies in their inaugural season, before suffering the injury in his ninth outing.