Okelo Pena
Contributing Writer
Broward College has an alumnus who is a World Series champion and MLB starter. Before becoming a starting pitcher in the majors apart of a rotating bullpen, Mike Fiers, a local product from Deerfield Beach High School, enrolled at Broward back in 2004. Fiers tried out and signed on to play for the Seahawks Men’s Baseball team during his freshman year and showed great promise.
Talent scouts noted how he could throw four pitches at the top Major League Baseball (MLB) speed. As a freshman, Fiers lead the country with a four-seam fastball at 88–91 miles per hour (142–146 km/h), a slider 82–85 miles per hour (132–137 km/h), a curveball 70–73 miles per hour (113–117 km/h), and a changeup 79–83 miles per hour (127–134 km/h).
He transferred from Broward after one year to the University of Cumberland in Kentucky but eventually returned home to South Florida playing at Nova Southeastern University (NSU).
Fiers’ performance earned him third-team All-American honors in both his junior and senior season. Fiers recorded an ERA of 2.65, 145 strikeouts, 2nd in wins as a starter and led the NSU Sharks to a school record with 37 wins in 2009.
Fiers would be drafted 22nd overall in the first round of the 2009 MLB draft by the Milwaukee Brewers. In 2015, he was traded to the Houston Astros and had some memorable highlights starting a full season. Fiers pitched a no-hitter and perfect inning game in his first year with the team and earned his first World Series Championship in 2017, his final year as an Astro.
After signing with the Detriot Tigers in the 2017 offseason, Fiers was traded to the Oakland Athletics in August prior to the trade deadline. He was crucial to the A’s pitching core and in the 10 games he started, posted a 3.74 ERA, struck out 52 batters in 53 innings and guided the club to a playoff in 2018.
Between Detroit and Oakland, he posted a 12-8 record and an ERA of 3.56, which was top 10 for pitchers in the American Leauge. His hard work earned him a new contract this offseason signing with the green and gold, on a two-year deal worth up to $14 to 15 million.
Fiers is looking to become Oakland’s starter come opening night and beyond in 2019. In an interview with the Mercury News, he said, “To start Opening Day would be an honor and it says a lot about you as a pitcher. Not just your stuff but the mental side. Being able to go out there and control your emotions and pitch.”
On the A’s first game of spring training, Feb. 27, Fiers struck out five batters and gave up one run on three hits with no walks over three innings in a 17-5 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. In 2019, Fiers hopes to help his team with the pursuit of a championship, take on a new role as a leader and become Oakland’s No.1 starter.
A proven BC Seahawk ready to take the next step in his MLB career.
penao4@mail.broward.edu
Photo: Mike Fiers, who plays for the Oakland Athletics, is a BC Alumni.Photo Courtesy of Athletics Nation