The longtime Hawaii MLB veteran is 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 who excelled in basketball, football and baseball, which was actually the sport he enjoyed the least.

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

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

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

Three years later he received a call to the major leagues.

“Most of these younger guys are single and hitting the road, they’re alone and homesick, especially those from Hawaii who aren’t going to college,” Fetters said. “They stay home and deregister from high school. They have this homesickness, like men. I’m not used to being on the mainland but I had my wife with me so it made it a lot easier.”

Staying down-to-earth and being a family man helped Fetters complete 16 major league seasons…

His best playing years came in Milwaukee, where he cemented his role as the Brewers’ closer.

His 79 saves with the club still rank sixth-most in franchise history and he is enshrined on the team’s Wall of Honor.

Now the coach of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Fetters remains one of Hawaii’s best and longest-tenured major league players.

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

“First and foremost, stay humble,” Fetters said. “Number two is you have to keep working. There are no shortcuts up here. It’s hard to get into the big leagues. It’s even harder to stay. It’s a cliché, but that’s the truth.”

For now, the Diamondbacks are making his time in the league worthwhile.

The defending National League champions are on their way to another playoff spot, and Fetters, despite all he’s accomplished, still has a box to check.

“I want a World Series,” Fetters said. “That’s all I ever played for. The only reason I train is for the opportunity to try and win a championship. I don’t have one yet, I was pretty close last year. I wish I was a player who would win a World Series, but the next best thing is coaching. I hope our guys can do this thing this year.”

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