Alex Faedo – Tampa Bay Rays Biography, Contract, Net Worth Information

Alex Faedo has really started to make a name for himself in pro baseball since he debuted with the Detroit Tigers in May 2022. He was born in Tampa, Florida, on November 12, 1995. The Detroit Tigers picked him up in the first round (18th overall) of the 2017 MLB Draft after he put together a standout college career at the University of Florida.

Right now, Alex Faedo pulls in a salary of $720,000 per year and his estimated net worth sits at $4,257,491. That’s not bad for a pitcher still early in his major league run.

Recently, Faedo’s career took a new turn when he moved from the Detroit Tigers over to the Tampa Bay Rays. He signed a one-year contract worth $769,900 with the Rays, which feels like a step forward for him—and it brings him back to his hometown. The right-hander has been building up his reputation, even though he’s faced some bumps early on.

With just over a year of service time (1.169) as of January 2025, Faedo still sits in pre-arbitration status. If he keeps progressing, bigger paydays could be on the horizon. His journey from being a first-round pick in 2017 to carving out a spot in the majors says a lot about his perseverance and skill.

Early Life and Background

Alex Faedo’s path to professional baseball started long before he ever pitched for the Tampa Bay Rays. Family, school, and his time playing college ball all shaped him as a pitcher.

Family and Upbringing

Alexander Michael Faedo was born on November 12, 1995 in Tampa, Florida. He grew up in a baseball-loving family and caught the bug early on.

His dad, who coached baseball, played a big role in developing his skills from the start. The Tampa native stands at 6-foot-6 and weighs 225 pounds, which definitely helped him on the mound.

Faedo’s size and strength became part of his presence as a pitcher. Growing up in Florida gave him year-round chances to hone his game, thanks to the warm weather and the area’s strong baseball culture.

High School and Amateur Baseball

Faedo went to Alonso High School in Tampa, where he quickly stood out as a pitcher. Scouts started to notice his fastball and slider combo, and his high school career featured some impressive stats.

During his senior year, Faedo pretty much dominated local competition. People recognized him as one of Florida’s top pitching prospects.

He showed not just physical talent but also real mental toughness in big games. Even though the Detroit Tigers drafted him in the later rounds of the 2014 MLB Draft, Faedo decided to play college baseball instead. He figured he could develop more and improve his pro prospects.

College Baseball Career

Faedo picked the University of Florida and became a key part of the Gators’ pitching rotation. His college career peaked in 2017 when he helped Florida win the College World Series.

Faedo delivered some dominant performances that year and earned the College World Series Most Outstanding Player award. He showed he could handle the pressure, which caught the eye of major league scouts.

The righty’s success in college led to the Detroit Tigers selecting him with the 18th overall pick in the first round of the 2017 MLB Draft. He signed for a $3.5 million bonus, officially kicking off his professional journey after a standout run in college.

Professional Baseball Career

Alex Faedo’s path through pro baseball has had its ups and downs—flashes of talent, some tough injuries, and plenty of perseverance. His story isn’t too different from what a lot of top prospects go through.

MLB Draft and Signing

The Detroit Tigers picked Alex Faedo with the 18th overall selection in the 2017 MLB Draft. He boosted his draft stock at the University of Florida, where he helped the Gators win a College World Series.

Faedo signed with Detroit for a signing bonus of $3.5 million, which was just a bit under the slot value for his draft spot. The Tigers saw him as a polished college pitcher who might move quickly through their minor league system.

Because he pitched deep into the college postseason, the Tigers decided to let him rest his arm instead of sending him straight to the minors.

Minor League Progression

Faedo started his minor league career in 2018 with the Lakeland Flying Tigers (High-A), then moved up to the Erie SeaWolves (Double-A). His first season showed promise, and he adjusted to tougher competition.

He stayed at Double-A Erie for 2019 and made real progress. People started to recognize him as one of the Tigers’ top pitching prospects, especially for his slider and better fastball command.

Things took a turn when Faedo needed Tommy John surgery in January 2021. That injury forced him to miss the whole 2021 season while he rehabbed. The surgery set him back, but he used the time to rebuild his arm strength with Detroit’s medical team.

Detroit Tigers Debut

After rehabbing from Tommy John, Faedo finally made his MLB debut with the Detroit Tigers on May 4, 2022. He faced the Pittsburgh Pirates and pitched five solid innings, showing real poise.

Faedo’s rookie year included some strong outings. At one point, he allowed two or fewer runs in each of his first seven major league starts. That consistency made people take notice—he looked like a possible rotation piece for Detroit.

But injuries kept popping up. He landed on the injured list with right hip inflammation, which ended his 2022 season. More recently, the Rays put him on the 60-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation in April 2025. Durability has definitely been a challenge for him.

Playing Style and Notable Achievements

Alex Faedo stands out for his pitching style and some key accomplishments along the way. He’s known for his technical approach and mental toughness on the mound.

Pitching Arsenal and Mechanics

Faedo mainly throws a four-seam fastball that sits in the low 90s, but his real weapon is a sharp slider with late movement. At 6’6” and 225 pounds, he uses his height to get a downward angle on his pitches. His delivery is pretty clean, with not much wasted motion.

Back at Florida, Faedo made a name for himself with his slider, which became his go-to pitch for strikeouts. That pitch helped him lead the Gators to the 2017 College World Series title, where he was named Most Outstanding Player.

Now with the Rays, he’s been working to improve his changeup so he can round out his mix. That’s become more important as he tries to lock down a spot in the Rays’ rotation.

Performance Metrics and Strikeout Rates

Throughout his pro career, Faedo has shown he can rack up strikeouts, thanks mostly to his nasty slider. His K/9 (strikeouts per nine innings) has usually been above the league average, showing he can miss bats when it counts.

Analytics folks have pointed out his pitch tunneling—he makes his fastball and slider look the same out of his hand before they break in different directions. That’s been especially tough on right-handed hitters.

Faedo’s numbers put him on a similar development track as other young Tigers pitchers like Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize. Competing with guys like Matt Manning and Reese Olson helped push his growth before he moved to the Rays.

He’s also worked well with different catchers, showing he can adapt to game plans and execute. Against tough lineups like the Yankees, Faedo has used smart pitch sequencing instead of just trying to overpower hitters.

Contract Details and Salary Analysis

Alex Faedo’s contract history tells the story of a young pitcher working his way up in MLB. His earnings reflect the usual path for someone still early in their big-league career.

Current Contract Structure

Right now, Alex Faedo makes a salary of $720,000 per year with the Tampa Bay Rays. That’s basically the league minimum for players who haven’t hit arbitration yet.

He doesn’t have a signing bonus tied to his current contract, at least based on public info. That’s pretty standard for guys in his situation.

When he moved from Detroit to Tampa Bay, his contract situation changed a bit. The Rays have a reputation for financial discipline and have kept Faedo at a cost-controlled salary.

Arbitration and Free Agency

Faedo hasn’t reached arbitration yet, which usually kicks in after three years of MLB service time. That’s why his salary is still near the minimum.

His arbitration timeline will matter for future earnings. If things stay on track, he’d probably be up for arbitration for the first time in the 2026-2027 window.

Free agency is still a ways off for Faedo. Under the current MLB collective bargaining agreement, players typically need six full years in the majors to hit free agency.

Tigers general manager Scott Harris wasn’t involved in drafting Faedo, since Harris joined Detroit after 2017.

AAV and Salary Comparisons

Faedo’s Average Annual Value (AAV) of $720,000 puts him at the lower end of MLB salaries, which is normal for pre-arbitration players. By comparison, established starters often pull in $15-30 million a year.

When you stack Faedo up against other young pitchers with similar experience, his pay lines up with the market. The current value of his contract just reflects that he’s still developing.

His net worth is estimated at $4,257,491, which adds up all his pro earnings so far. That’s not his current salary, just his career total.

The Rays are known for developing talent in-house and keeping costs down, which definitely affects Faedo’s contract situation right now.

Net Worth and Financial Profile

Alex Faedo has built up a solid financial base thanks to his baseball career. Most of his earnings come from MLB contracts, but he probably has a few other income streams as well.

Career Earnings

Alex Faedo’s net worth is around $4.25 million, built up through his pro baseball journey. His current salary with the Rays is $769,900 per year, which is a bump from what he made before.

His financial story started when the Detroit Tigers took him 18th overall in the 2017 MLB Draft. First-rounders usually get a big signing bonus, which gave him a nice head start.

Faedo’s career has taken him from the Tigers to the Rays, with each contract reflecting his growth as a pitcher. MLB minimum salaries have gone up during his time in the league, which has helped boost his earning power.

Endorsements and Business Ventures

Nobody really knows the specifics of Faedo’s endorsement deals, since he and his team keep those details private. Usually, though, MLB players at his level land equipment sponsorships from the big athletic brands.

As a pitcher, Faedo probably has partnerships for gloves and shoes. It just makes sense, right?

Faedo grew up in Florida and played college ball at the University of Florida. That background gives him a natural connection to the Tampa area, especially now that he’s pitching for his hometown Tampa Bay Rays.

He doesn’t chase the spotlight when it comes to business investments or entrepreneurial stuff. A lot of players do the same—they focus on getting established in the league before branching out.

His ties to Florida could open the door to real estate or local business opportunities down the line. Still, nobody’s reported anything specific about that yet.