Longtime Hawaii MLB veteran hoping for another shot at a world title

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Mike Fetters grew up in Ewa Beach as a man of many talents.

A three-sport athlete skilled in basketball, football, and baseball, which was actually the sport he enjoyed the least.

But when he got drafted out of Iolani by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 22nd round, he reconsidered.

“I didn’t think I was all that good,” Fetters said. “I knew I could play at another level whether it was basketball, baseball, football, it didn’t matter, but once I got drafted, I told myself, there’s no NBA or NFL scouts talking to me, so let me go give this MLB thing a shot.”

Instead of going to the majors immediately, he chose to attend Pepperdine University to help raise his stock and in 1986, he was drafted in the first round by the California Angels

Three years later, he got the call up to the big leagues.

“Most of these younger guys, they’re single and they hit the trail, they’re by themselves and they get homesick, especially those from Hawaii that don’t go to college,” Fetters said. “They stay home and sign out of high school. They go through that homesickness, like man, I’m not used to being on the mainland, but I had my wife with me, so it made it so much easier.”

Staying grounded and being a family man helped propel Fetters to 16-major league seasons…

His best playing years came in Milwaukee where he solidified a role as the Brewers closer.

His 79 saves with the club still ranks sixth highest in franchise history and he’s enshrined on the team’s Wall of Honor.

Now a coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks– Fetters remains one of the top and longest-tenured major leaguers to come out of Hawaii.

He often returns home to the islands and has some advice for the young talent trying to break in.

“Stay humble first and foremost,” Fetters said. “Number two is you gotta keep working. There’s no shortcuts up here. It’s hard to get to the major leagues. It’s even harder to stick. It’s cliche, but that’s the truth.”

Right now, the Diamondbacks are making his time in league worth while..

The defending National League champions are in the mix for another playoff berth and for as much as he’s achieved, Fetters has one box left to check.

“I want a World Series,’ Fetters explained. “That’s all i ever played for. That’s the only reason why I’m coaching is the opportunity to try and win a championship. I haven’t got one yet, got really close last year. I wish I were a player to win a World Series, but the second best thing is coaching. I’m hoping that our guys can get this thing done this year.”

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