Born in Matanzas, Fernández won his first international medal at the 2005 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships, where he came second in the discus behind Ryan Whiting of the United States.

[5] He was chosen to compete at the 2008 Central American and Caribbean Championships and came away with the gold medal, finishing just ahead of fellow Cuban Yunior Lastre.

[5] The 2009 CAC Championships was held in the Cuban capital and he defended his region title to lead a discus 1–2 for the host nation alongside his compatriot Lastre.

[9][10] In his first year based in Europe, he had a season's best throw of 65.89 m came in Cottbus in June and won the Weltklasse in Biberach and Meeting de Atletismo Madrid competitions.

[4][11] At the 2011 World Championships in Athletics he was fourth in qualifying with a mark of 64.94 m, but fell short of this in the final, ending the final in eighth place with a best mark of 63.54 m.[4] His year ended on a high as he won the gold medal at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara – his winning throw of 65.58 m was the best seen at the tournament in 24 years and he became the third Cuban to take the men's Pan American discus title (joining Roberto Moya and Luis Delís).