Doug Fister
Encyclopedia
Douglas Wildes Fister is a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...

 starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....

 for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...

.

Fister bats left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...

, and throws right-handed. He was born in Merced, California
Merced, California
Merced is a city in, and the county seat of, Merced County, California in the San Joaquin Valley of Northern California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 78,958. Incorporated in 1889, Merced is a charter city that operates under a council-manager government...

 and attended Golden Valley High School
Golden Valley High School (Merced)
Golden Valley High School is a high school located within the Merced Union High School District in the community of Merced, California. The school first opened in August 1994, with its first class of seniors graduating on June 5, 1996...

. For college, Fister attended Merced College
Merced College
Merced College, established in 1963, is a community college located in Merced, California.-External links:*...

, and later Fresno State University. Fister spent four seasons (2006–2009) in the Seattle Mariners minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...

 organization before being called-up by the Mariners in 2009.

Early life

Fister was born on February 4, 1984, to Larry and Jan Fister. Larry Fister is a fire captain
Fire captain
Captain is a rank in various fire services.In most American and Canadian fire services, a captain ranks above a lieutenant and below a Battalion Chief. This varies, though, between departments – in the Boston Fire Department, the captain is the officer in overall charge of a fire company...

 who played football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...

 at Fresno State University from 1976 to 1977. Jan Fister is a homemaker
Homemaker
Homemaking is a mainly American term for the management of a home, otherwise known as housework, housekeeping or household management...

. Fister has three siblings; his brother Jake, and his two sisters, Casey, and Wendy. Fister grew up in Merced, California where he recalls starting to play baseball at the age of "six or seven."

He was a fan of the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....

 and San Francisco Giants as a child. His favorite player was Cal Ripken, Jr.
Cal Ripken, Jr.
Calvin Edwin "Cal" Ripken, Jr. , nicknamed "Iron Man", is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and third baseman. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Baltimore Orioles ....

 Fister also played soccer, football and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...

 as a child. His middle name (Wildes) is "a family tradition" which he shares with his father and grandfather.

High school

Fister attended Golden Valley High School. On the baseball team, Fister pitched, and was the team's utility player
Utility player
In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades. Sports in which the term is often used include association football , baseball, rugby, rugby league, water polo and softball....

. He was a two-year letterman and a first-team All-Central California Conference selection his senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...

 season. In his senior season, Fister batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...

 .456 with one home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...

, and 12 RBIs. He also played basketball at Golden Valley High School, and lettered in that as well. In basketball, Fister was a first-team all-conference selection, averaging over 30 points per game as a senior. Fister graduated in the same class at Golden Valley High School as professional catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...

 Dusty Ryan
Dusty Ryan
Dusty Mitchell Ryan is a Major League Baseball catcher in the New York Mets organization.His first major league hit was a home run...

.

College

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. In 2003, he was a pre-season All-American. Fister was drafted by the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....

 in the 49th round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft
2004 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...

, however, Fister chose to transfer to Fresno State University. In 2005, Fister led all Fresno State pitchers with seven wins
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...

; and was second on the team in innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...

 (93), and strikeouts (77). That season, he was drafted by the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...

 in the sixth round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft
2005 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...

. In 2006, Fister had a combined record of 8–6 with a 4.10 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...

 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
2006 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2006 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 6 and 7. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams.-First Round Selections:...

.

2006–2007 seasons

Fister was selected by the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...

 in the seventh round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft
2006 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2006 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 6 and 7. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams.-First Round Selections:...

, and signed on June 10, 2006. He began his professional career that season with the Class-A Short-Season
Short season
Short season refers to a form of class A minor league baseball in which only about 75 games are played each season, as opposed to the typical 140 games for an affiliated minor league team at a higher level...

 Everett AquaSox
Everett AquaSox
The Everett AquaSox are a minor league baseball team in Everett, Washington, USA. They are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League, of which they are the current defending champions...

 of the Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...

. Fister went 3–5 with a 2.25 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...

, four saves, and 35 strikeouts in 20 games; four starts. He was first on the AquaSox in games finished
Games finished
In baseball statistics, a relief pitcher is credited with a game finished if he is the last pitcher to pitch for his team in a game. A starting pitcher is not credited with a GF for pitching a complete game...

 (13), and ERA; tied for second in saves, and wins; and was third among pitchers in games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...

 (20). The next season, 2007, Fister played with the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
The Jackson Generals are a minor league baseball team of the Southern League and the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The team is located in Jackson, Tennessee, and plays their home games at Pringles Park; opened in 1998, the park currently holds 6,000 fans.From their inaugural season...

 of the Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...

. That season, he went 7–8 with a 4.60 ERA, one complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...

, and 85 strikeouts in 24 games, all starts. Fister led the Diamond Jaxx pitching staff in wins, and home runs allowed
Home runs allowed
In baseball statistics, home runs allowed signifies the total number of home runs a pitcher allowed.The record for the most home runs allowed by any pitcher belongs to Jamie Moyer , the oldest active pitcher in the major leagues...

 (14); was tied for first in complete games; was second in hits allowed
Hits allowed
In Baseball statistics, hits allowed signifies the total number of hits a pitcher allowed....

 (156); and was third in losses, games started, innings pitched (131), runs allowed
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...

 (78), and earned runs allowed
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...

 (67).

2008 season

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. Fister became the Southern League's first 10 game loser on July 10. 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 (134), 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. He was also first in the Southern League in runs allowed; and was second in losses, and earned runs allowed. At the end of the 2008 regular season, Fister played in the Arizona Fall League
Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States at five spring training complexes...

 (AFL) with the Peoria Javelinas
Peoria Javelinas
The Peoria Javelinas, established in 1992, are a baseball team that plays in the West Division of the Arizona Fall League. The Javelinas play their home games in the Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona, which is a spring training site for both the San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners.For...

. In the AFL, Fister was involved in no decisions with a 3.32 ERA, and 22 strikeouts in 11 games, all in relief.

2009 season

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
Tacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are a minor league baseball team that plays in the Pacific Coast League , and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners...

, 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. As a result, pitcher Jason Vargas
Jason Vargas
Jason Matthew Vargas is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Seattle Mariners. He has played parts of two seasons in the major leagues with the Florida Marlins, part of one season in the major leagues with the New York Mets and the last two seasons with the Seattle Mariners.-College...

 was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma to make room for Fister on the Mariners' 25-man roster.

In his major league debut against the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...

 on August 8, Fister pitched one inning, struck out one, gave up one hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....

, and gave up one walk. He made his first start on August 11 against the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...

 and picked up the loss. Fister's first win came on August 16 against the New York Yankees. 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.

2010 season

In 2010, Fister started the first game for the Mariners in spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...

. Going into the season, Fister, and fellow starting pitchers Garrett Olson
Garrett Olson
Garrett Andrew Olson is a Major League Baseball pitcher currently in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.-High school:Olson attended Buchanan High School in Clovis, California...

, Luke French
Luke French
Detective Sergeant Luke French is a fictional police officer of the Criminal Investigation Department within Wyvern Constabulary's, Holby South Police Station. His character is featured in Holby Blue, a spin-off of the long running medical drama Holby City.-Character history:Luke is one of the...

 and Jason Vargas competed for the Mariners' fifth spot in the starting rotation. Fister ended up getting a job in the rotation (as did Vargas). On April 19, Fister took a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...

 into the seventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...

 until it was broken up by Nick Markakis
Nick Markakis
Nicholas William Markakis is a Major League Baseball right fielder for the Baltimore Orioles. Of Greek and German descent , Markakis is known for his arm strength, stellar right field defense and smooth hitting....

' leadoff single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...

. Although the Mariners suffered early season woes, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer is an online newspaper and former print newspaper covering Seattle, Washington, United States, and the surrounding metropolitan area...

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
2010 Seattle Mariners season
The Seattle Mariners season was the 34th season in franchise history. Their last playoff appearance was in 2001.-Coaching staff changes:Most of the 2009 major league coaching staff was retained, with the exception of third base coach Bruce Hines. Mike Brumley was named the new third base coach on...

 would be."

2011 season

In 2011, Fister was the Mariners number three starter behind Felix Hernandez
Félix Hernández
Félix Abraham Hernández , nicknamed "King Félix", is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Seattle Mariners....

 and Jason Vargas
Jason Vargas
Jason Matthew Vargas is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Seattle Mariners. He has played parts of two seasons in the major leagues with the Florida Marlins, part of one season in the major leagues with the New York Mets and the last two seasons with the Seattle Mariners.-College...

. On July 30, Fister was traded to the Detroit Tigers along with relief pitcher David Pauley
David Pauley
David Wayne Pauley is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. He bats and throws right-handed. Pauley is a graduate of Longmont High School in Longmont, Colorado.-Career:...

 in exchange for Casper Wells
Casper Wells
Casper Charles Wells V is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Seattle Mariners. Casper stands at 6'2 and weighs 210 pounds.-Early life:...

, Charlie Furbush
Charlie Furbush
Charles "Charlie" R. Furbush is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball. He is 6'5" tall and weighs 215 pounds.-Early life and career:...

, Francisco Martinez
Francisco Martínez (baseball)
Francisco Javier Martínez is a third baseman who is currently on the Seattle Mariners 40 man roster.-Professional career:Martínez along with Jacob Turner represented the Detroit Tigers at the 2011 All-Star Futures Game....

, and Chance Ruffin
Chance Ruffin
Chance Kraig Ruffin is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball.-Professional career:...

. 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. He finished the 2011 regular season 11–13, with an ERA of 2.83 that placed him fourth among American League pitchers.

Fister was named the American League Pitcher of the Month for September after going 5–0 with a 0.53 ERA in five starts.

Facing the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...

 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.

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
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...

' powerful offense to just two runs and going 7 1/3 innings to get the win in a 5-2 Tiger victory.

External links

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