An athlete since he was 4 years old, Jorge Fernandez participated in various sports before focusing on baseball as he entered adolescence. After experiencing a series of ups and downs, as well as injuries during his time as a collegiate pitcher, Fernandez eventually found his way to his local CrossFit box.
- He believes that his path to this point in life was meant to be all along.
Set to compete this weekend at the Mayhem Classic in Cookeville, TN, Fernandez reflects on how his journey began and the twists and turns that led him to the competition floor.
Some Background
In high school, Fernandez, a two-way player (shortstop and pitcher), received a walk-on offer from Texas State University.
Close to his home in Del Rio, TX, Fernandez enjoyed his freshman year — it was the perfect balance of sports, academics, and plenty of partying.
It didn’t take long before Fernandez was cut from the team. He faced two options: remain at TSU as a student, giving up his dream of playing baseball, or transfer to a smaller school that would accept him and have a spot for him on their team.
- “I gave myself one night, and I cried. The next morning, I emailed a bunch of junior colleges. I got one email back, from (San Jacinto College) in Houston,” Fernandez told Morning Chalk Up.
They told him he could travel to Houston to try out for the team despite the fact that they wouldn’t have an immediate roster spot available. He went, and they liked what they saw, offering him a position for the following season.
Fernandez finished the year at TSU, then packed his bags and moved to Houston to become a San Jac Raven.
- “At that school, I figured my things out. Didn’t party, just trained, baseball was the priority. They told me that…they thought I worked really hard,” Fernandez said.
He started working with a dedicated throwing coach, gave up his infielder’s glove, and focused solely on pitching.
- “The first year was great, the second year was even better. I got offers from Baylor and San Diego State – big schools – and I decided to check out San Diego State. They flew me out, and I fell in love with California. So, I played two years at San Diego State,” Fernandez said.
He was on his way to the big leagues, ready to be drafted. However, a week before that could happen, he tore his UCL, a potentially career-ending, if not career-altering, shoulder injury.
A Major Setback
Fernandez faced a significant decision: whether to undergo shoulder surgery and commit to potentially a year of rehabilitation, hoping to return for a super senior year at age 28 and possibly transition to the minor leagues.
His doctor presented him with the option of a cortisone shot and therapy – a temporary solution that would allow him to complete his college career and delay surgery until retirement.
- “I wanted to just enjoy the rest of my time, so I told the doctor, ‘Let’s just go with the cortisone shot.’ So I pitched those two last years, we won two Mountain West Championships, went to Regionals (twice), and then I retired,” Fernandez said.
A New Direction
After Fernandez’s retirement from baseball, his life felt somewhat adrift.
- “It was a relief in a way, but I was also very depressed. It was the first time I didn’t have sports in my life. It was who I was, I was going to be a big league, major league player. So I was sitting at home, super depressed and anxious, and didn’t know what to do, I had no school, no job, and no girlfriend. Everything hit at once,” Fernandez said.
At that time, he was still living in San Diego, and it seemed that all his friends and teammates were being drafted and moving away. One day, while he was chasing down some limited edition sneakers downtown, he stumbled upon a CrossFit gym, although he had no idea what it was at that time.
- “Everyone is throwing weights around, and I see these banners. I didn’t know then, but they were banners for Josh Bridges and Lauren Fisher. This was in 2019. I didn’t know what all these banners were, but these people were holding trophies. I was like, I want that,” Fernandez said.
It was CrossFit Invictus.
He took advantage of the free week-long trial offered by the gym and dove into a group class. He felt at ease and recognized that his natural abilities enabled him to excel at the exercises.
- “I got hungry for it, even though I didn’t totally know what it was. I fell in love with working out with the community and that feeling of teamwork and the bond,” Fernandez said.
But he couldn’t afford it. So he finished out his free week and had to stop going. After finding a job and saving money, he joined the gym and became a CrossFitter.
- “It fulfilled the competitive need, and being surrounded by people with a common goal, it was everything that I needed, all by chance,” Fernandez said.
Meant to Be
Fernandez now reflects and realizes that it was all meant to be. Everything he did led up to the first day he stepped into CrossFit Invictus. This journey has resulted in lifelong friendships, three tickets to the CrossFit Games, a bronze medal in 2022, and an Affiliate Cup victory in 2023.
At times, Fernandez still finds it difficult to fathom his success.
- “Obviously, when you have a big dream, you have those thoughts, like ‘it’s going to happen,’ but it’s still hard to believe when it finally does. When people say to me, ‘you’re an Adidas athlete,’ I think to myself ‘I am?” It’s surreal and hard to believe. I’m super thankful for this,” Fernandez said.
Currently supported by Adidas, Fernandez is pursuing his individual career as a Mayhem athlete while residing in Cookeville, TN.
He has competed in the Dubai Fitness Championship, Rogue Invitational, Syndicate Crown, and TYR Wodapalooza. He finished the 2025 CrossFit Open in 145th place worldwide, hoping to qualify as an individual for the 2025 CrossFit Games.
More CrossFit Stories
- 2025 Mayhem Classic Invitational – Preview and Podium Picks
- Interview: Mirjam von Rohr Is “All In” on CrossFit, Wins Open for Second Year in a Row
- Teen Champions Crowned in Mallorca at The Progrm’s Annual Throwdown
Featured Image: Scott Freymond
