| Doug Fister | |
|---|---|
| Detroit Tigers – No. 58 | |
| Starting pitcher | |
| Born: February 4, 1984 Merced, California |
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| Bats: Left | Throws: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| August 8, 2009 for the Seattle Mariners | |
| Career statistics (through 2011) |
|
| Win–loss record | 20–31 |
| Earned run average | 3.49 |
| Strikeouts | 275 |
| Teams | |
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Douglas Wildes Fister (born February 4, 1984) is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Detroit Tigers.
Fister bats left-handed, and throws right-handed. He was born in Merced, California and attended Golden Valley High School. For college, Fister attended Merced College, and later Fresno State University. Fister spent four seasons (2006–2009) in the Seattle Mariners minor league organization before being called-up by the Mariners in 2009.
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Fister was born on February 4, 1984, to Larry and Jan Fister.[1] Larry Fister is a fire captain who played football at Fresno State University from 1976 to 1977.[1] Jan Fister is a homemaker.[1] Fister has three siblings; his brother Jake, and his two sisters, Casey, and Wendy.[1] Fister grew up in Merced, California where he recalls starting to play baseball at the age of "six or seven."[2]
He was a fan of the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants as a child.[3] His favorite player was Cal Ripken, Jr.[3] Fister also played soccer, football and basketball as a child.[2] His middle name (Wildes) is "a family tradition" which he shares with his father and grandfather.[2]
Fister attended Golden Valley High School. On the baseball team, Fister pitched, and was the team's utility player.[1] He was a two-year letterman and a first-team All-Central California Conference selection his senior season.[1] In his senior season, Fister batted .456 with one home run, and 12 RBIs.[1] He also played basketball at Golden Valley High School, and lettered in that as well.[1] In basketball, Fister was a first-team all-conference selection, averaging over 30 points per game as a senior.[1] Fister graduated in the same class at Golden Valley High School as professional catcher Dusty Ryan.[4]
Fister attended Merced College from 2003 to 2004. At Merced, he was a two-year letterman, and participated in the 2003 Junior College All-Star Game.[1] In 2003, he was a pre-season All-American.[1] Fister was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 49th round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft, however, Fister chose to transfer to Fresno State University. In 2005, Fister led all Fresno State pitchers with seven wins; and was second on the team in innings pitched (932⁄3), and strikeouts (77).[1] That season, he was drafted by the New York Yankees in the sixth round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft. In 2006, Fister had a combined record of 8–6 with a 4.10 ERA in 20 games, 19 starts. Originally, Fister opted to spend one more season with Fresno State and was eventually drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the seventh round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft.
Fister was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the seventh round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft, and signed on June 10, 2006.[5] He began his professional career that season with the Class-A Short-Season Everett AquaSox of the Northwest League. Fister went 3–5 with a 2.25 ERA, four saves, and 35 strikeouts in 20 games; four starts. He was first on the AquaSox in games finished (13), and ERA; tied for second in saves, and wins; and was third among pitchers in games played (20).[6] The next season, 2007, Fister played with the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx of the Southern League. That season, he went 7–8 with a 4.60 ERA, one complete game, and 85 strikeouts in 24 games, all starts. Fister led the Diamond Jaxx pitching staff in wins, and home runs allowed (14); was tied for first in complete games; was second in hits allowed (156); and was third in losses, games started, innings pitched (131), runs allowed (78), and earned runs allowed (67).[7]
Fister continued to play for the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx in 2008. On April 23, Fister was named the Southern League Pitcher of the Week.[8] Fister became the Southern League's first 10 game loser on July 10.[9] On the season, Fister went 6–14 with a 5.43 ERA, and 104 strikeouts in 31 games; 23 starts. Fister was first among Diamond Jaxx pitchers in losses, games started, innings pitched (1341⁄3), hits allowed (155), runs allowed (95), earned runs allowed (81), home runs allowed (12); and was second in wins, bases on balls (walks) allowed (45), and strikeouts.[10] He was also first in the Southern League in runs allowed; and was second in losses, and earned runs allowed.[11] At the end of the 2008 regular season, Fister played in the Arizona Fall League (AFL) with the Peoria Javelinas.[12] In the AFL, Fister was involved in no decisions with a 3.32 ERA, and 22 strikeouts in 11 games, all in relief.
In 2009, Fister began the season with the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx for the third time in his career. However, he was later promoted to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, and eventually the Seattle Mariners.
In just two games with the Diamond Jaxx, Fister went 1–0 and gave-up no earned runs. With the Rainiers, Fister went 6–4 with a 3.81 ERA, and 79 strikeouts in 22 games, 17 starts.
On August 7, Fister was promoted to the majors.[13] As a result, pitcher Jason Vargas was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma to make room for Fister on the Mariners' 25-man roster.[13]
In his major league debut against the Tampa Bay Rays on August 8, Fister pitched one inning, struck out one, gave up one hit, and gave up one walk.[14] He made his first start on August 11 against the Chicago White Sox and picked up the loss.[15] Fister's first win came on August 16 against the New York Yankees.[16] Fister finished the season with a major league record of 3–4 with a 4.13 ERA, and 36 strikeouts in 11 games, 10 starts.
In 2010, Fister started the first game for the Mariners in spring training.[17] Going into the season, Fister, and fellow starting pitchers Garrett Olson, Luke French and Jason Vargas competed for the Mariners' fifth spot in the starting rotation.[18] Fister ended up getting a job in the rotation (as did Vargas). On April 19, Fister took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles until it was broken up by Nick Markakis' leadoff single.[19] Although the Mariners suffered early season woes, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer praised Fister and fellow starter Jason Vargas as reasons for why the Mariners were not doing worse, stating, "If Doug Fister and Jason Vargas hadn't been excellent at the back end of the rotation, God knows where this club would be."[20]
In 2011, Fister was the Mariners number three starter behind Felix Hernandez and Jason Vargas. On July 30, Fister was traded to the Detroit Tigers along with relief pitcher David Pauley in exchange for Casper Wells, Charlie Furbush, Francisco Martinez, and Chance Ruffin.[21] Before being dealt to the Detroit Tigers, Fister had a 3–12 record with a 3.33 ERA in 21 starts.
After his trade to the Tigers, Fister went 8–1 with a 1.79 ERA in 10 starts.[22] He finished the 2011 regular season 11–13, with an ERA of 2.83 that placed him fourth among American League pitchers.[23]
Fister was named the American League Pitcher of the Month for September after going 5–0 with a 0.53 ERA in five starts.[24]
Facing the New York Yankees in the American League Divisional Series, Fister bounced back from a rough game 1 outing to earn the win in the decisive game 5. Fister limited the Yankees to one run on five hits and two walks over five innings in the Tigers 3–2 victory, which sent them to the American League Championship Series.[25]
In the American League Championship Series, he pitched a gem in the third game to bring the Tigers back from a 2-0 deficit, holding the Texas Rangers' powerful offense to just two runs and going 7 1/3 innings to get the win in a 5-2 Tiger victory.[26]