Matt Festa #52

MATTHEW JOSEPH FESTA...Married, Danamarie, a Fox News correspondent based out of Miami...Played three seasons at East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania where he was the highest draft pick in ESU history…In his senior 2016 season, was a Brett Tomko Award national finalist (one of 10) for DII Pitcher of the Year, and earned PSAC East Co-Pitcher of the Year honors, setting single-season school records for wins (11), strikeouts (105), innings (88), starts (13) and complete games (nine)...Set career records for wins (23) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.1)...Brooklyn, NY native prepped at St. Joseph by the Sea High School in Staten Island...Attended NCAA Division II Dominican University (NY) before transferring to East Stroudsburg University.

2025

After being acquired by Cleveland from Texas on April 30, Festa became a reliable member of the Guardians bullpen, setting career-highs in games (63) and innings pitched (54.2)...Was T-first in the AL (TOR Brendon Little), T-third in MLB, in appearances from May 1-end of season (63)…Was primarily a single-inning reliever, entering mid-inning after the starter departed with men on in most occasions, working one-or-fewer innings in 53 of his 63 outings…Also set a career-high in holds (12), doubling his previous high of six while (SEA 2022) after entering season with 11 career holds...Prior to joining Cleveland, Festa went 2-0 in nine games with AAA Round Rock, earning a save in 14.2 scoreless innings…Posted a 3.33 ERA (10ER/27IP) in 32 appearances after the All-Star Break (4.88 ERA in the first half with the Guards)...Stifled right-handed hitters, holding them to a .196 (21-for-107) batting average, compared to a .250 (23-for-92) mark against LHH...Inherited 45 runners, T-seventh-most in MLB and allowed just 15 to score (33.3%)...Appeared in AL Wild Card Series Game 3…Prior to the season was designated for assignment by Texas on 1/6/25, traded to Chicago-NL for cash considerations on 1/9/25, then DFA’d by the Cubs on 1/28/25 before re-signing a Minor League contract with Texas.

2024

Was part of three organizations in 2024, ending the season by going 6-0 with a 4.37 ERA (11 ER/22.2 IP) in 18 relief appearances for the Rangers from 8/11-9/27…Six relief wins (all with TEX) were tied for second-most on club (Yates, seven) and tied for 10th in the AL…Became the second Rangers reliever ever to post six or more relief wins and no losses in a single season (also 6-0 by Robbie Ross Jr. in 2012)…Earned six relief wins over his first 17 games as a Ranger, the most wins ever by a pitcher in his first 17 relief appearances with Texas…Recorded four or more outs in eight of 18 outings for the Rangers…Also made one appearance in relief for New York-NL on 6/30 vs. HOU (1.0 IP, five R, four ER)…Initially signed a Minor League contract with San Diego on 1/26 and was assigned to El Paso (AAA) after participating in Major League Spring Training with the Padres…Worked in 16 games out of the bullpen for the Chihuahuas (4.50 ERA) before being released on 5/16…Was signed by the Mets to a Minor League pact on 5/19 and had his contract selected by New York-NL on 6/30…Designated for assignment on 7/3 after one appearance and elected free agency on 7/7…Signed with the Rangers on 7/8 and pitched in four games with Round Rock (AAA) before being released…Re-signed with Texas on 8/6, appearing twice more for the Express before his contract was selected by the Rangers on 8/11, where he spent the duration of the season…Was designated for assignment on 1/6/25, traded to Chicago-NL for cash considerations on 1/9/25 and DFA’d by the Cubs on 1/28/25 before signing a Minor League contract with Texas.

2023

Spent the majority of the season with Triple-A Tacoma, posting a 0.53 ERA (2 ER, 34.0 IP) while also making eight appearances across three separate stints with the Mariners Major League club (4.00 ERA; 4 ER, 9.0 IP)...Made his third career Opening Day roster and his second in a row for SEA…was scoreless in six of his eight appearances for the Mariners, with three of his four ER allowed coming in his second outing on April 3 vs. SEA...Scored upon in his next outing on April 8 @ CLE (1 ER, 0.1 IP)…optioned to Tacoma on April 9...Recalled on May 31 and did not allow a hit across three scoreless outings from June 3-7 before being optioned again on June 9...Recalled for the third and final time on July 3 and made two more scoreless outings before being optioned back to TAC on July 16...Overall with SEA, walked 13 and struck out 12 across his eight total outings and 9.0 IP, posting ratios of 13.00 SO/9 IP, 12.00 B/9 IP and 1.08 SO/BB. Allowed just one HR (two-run HR by Taylor Ward on April 3 vs. LAA)...Allowed just one hit to the 20 LHH he faced (.071 AVG; 1-for-14) with six walks while RHH batted .176 (3-for-17) with 6 walks...Allowed just one hit with RISP (.083 AVG, 1-for-12) and went hitless with RISP/2 out (0-for-7)...Posted a 1.93 ERA (1 ER, 4.2 IP) in 5 away appearances vs. a 6.23 ERA (3 ER, 4.1 IP) in his three home outings...Per Statcast, relied on three pitches: Four Seamer (51.3%) Sweeper (41.5%) Cutter (7.2%)...For TAC, allowed just one unearned run in his first seven appearances from April 12-29 before surrendering his first ER for the Rainiers on May 2...Went on to post a career-best 12.0 scoreless-inning streak from May 6-June 13, allowing just three hits while converting all seven of his save opportunities over the stretch...Allowed two runs (one ER) on July 15 vs. Albuquerque before recording 8 consecutive scoreless appearances (10.0 IP) to finish his campaign... Placed on the 7-day IL on Aug. 4 before being designated for assignment and subsequently released on Aug. 8...Converted 15 of his 16 SVO for TAC, allowing just two ER (0.95 ERA) and a .111 opponents’ AVG in save situations...The right-hander had reverse splits for TAC, limiting LHH to a .030 AVG while RHH batted .132...Limited Triple-A hitters to a .065 AVG with RISP.

2022

Went 2-0 with two saves and a 4.17 ERA (25 ER, 54.0 IP) with 18 walks and 64 strikeouts in 53 relief appearances with Seattle...Made first appearance of the season April 10 at Minnesota, striking out four over 2.0 innings...marked his first Major League appearance since July 21, 2019, a span of 994 days between appearances...Recorded his first career save July 16 at Texas, striking out the side in the 10th to preserve a one-run lead...Was placed on the 15-day Injured List on May 5 with right elbow tendinitis...was reinstated on May 20...Was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma on June 18…was recalled from Tacoma on July 9...did not allow an earned run in 6.2 innings with 11 strikeouts in six appearances with the Rainiers...Did not allow a run in 10.0 innings spanning 11 appearances from June 7-July 24...struck out 14 while walking just two and held opponents to a .091 batting average (3x33) during the span...Earned first two career wins in consecutive appearances on July 10 vs. Toronto and July 14 at Texas...After being recalled from Triple-A Tacoma on July 10, pitched 5.2 scoreless innings allowing one hit and striking out in six games from July 10-24...Just Whiffin’...Struck out 64 batters in 54.0 innings this season (10.7 K/9)...has struck out 29.2% of batters faced...whiff rate ranked in the 81st percentile...Struck out at least one batter in 41-of-53 games this season and struck out at least two in 17 games.

2021

Made 23 combined minor league appearances with Triple-A Tacoma, High-A Everett and ACL Mariners, going 4-1 with a 2.49 ERA (7 ER, 25.1 IP) with four walks and 39 strikeouts...on Injured List from May 6- July 26, included rehab assignment with ACL Mariners and High-A Everett.

2020

Outrighted to AAA Tacoma on Feb. 10 after being Designated for Assignment on Feb. 3…missed season after having Ulnar Collateral Ligament (Tommy John) surgery on right elbow on March 4, 2020.

2019

Went 0-2 with 3 holds and a 5.64 ERA (14 ER, 22.1 IP) with 21 strikeouts and 12 walks in 20 relief appearances with the Mariners…named to fi rst Opening Day roster…appeared in 4 stints with Seattle: Opening Day-April 11, May 17, June 3-11 and June 14-21 (postgame)…from June 14-July 7, posted a 2.45 ERA (2 ER, 7.1 IP) in 8 relief appearances…in 23 games with Tacoma, went 1-1 with 5 saves and a 2.64 ERA (9 ER, 30.2 IP).

2018

Appeared in 8 games (1 start) with the Mariners, posting a 2.16 ERA (2 ER, 8.1 IP) with 4 strikeouts and 2 walks…made Major League debut on July 14 at Colorado…spent most of the year with AA Arkansas, going 5-2 with 20 saves and a 2.76 ERA (15 ER, 49.0 IP) in 44 games, while striking out 67, walking 12 and limiting opponents to a .263 (50x190) average…was named the Jamie Moyer Pitcher of the Year Award by the Mariners.

2017

Went 4-2 with 3.23 ERA (25 ER, 69.2 IP) in 42 games, 1 start with High-A Modesto… North Division California League All-Star…among California League pitchers, ranked T11th in save opps (9), T13th in saves (6), T14th in games (42), T15th in strikeouts (99) and T16th in holds (5)…led Cal League relievers with 13.10 strikeouts per 9.0 innings, 2nd in fewest baserunners per 9.0 innings (10.26) and 4th in walks per 9.0-inning ratio (2.30) and opponent batting average (.222)…had 12.8 strikeouts per 9.0 innings…tossed a seasonhigh 17.1 scoreless innings, May 23-June 16…played with Peoria in Arizona Fall League.