Derek Fisher

Fisher started the season with Houston, hitting .226 with a home run, five RBI and four stolen bases over 17 big-league contests, and after being dealt to Toronto at the trade deadline, things didn't get much better. In 40 games with the Blue Jays, he slashed .161/.271/.376 with six homers and 12 RBI over 40 matchups, striking out 43 times in 93 at-bats (46.2 K%). Oddly enough, the left-handed hitter fared much better against southpaws, hitting .245 (56 plate appearances) compared to .155 against right-handers (111 plate appearances). Fisher has demonstrated that he can play anywhere in the outfield, adding certain value, and he's shown decent power at the Triple-A level of late, slugging 14 homers with Triple-A Round Round in 2019 and 10 with Fresno during the 2018 campaign. A trade might've been the best-case scenario for Fisher, who could compete for a starting corner outfield job during spring training.

Fisher managed to secure a spot on the Opening Day roster, but he returned to Triple-A in mid-May after slashing .176/.222/.419 with four home runs and 37 strikeouts in 81 at-bats. The 24-year-old struggled similarly in 166 major-league PA in 2017. Houston only returned him to the majors last year for five at-bats in August, in which he struck out all five times. Fisher did not have a significant strikeout issue at Triple-A prior to 2018, but his rate ballooned to 30.2% at that level last season. The Astros brought in Michael Brantley in free agency to start in left field, so barring a monster spring training, Fisher will be back at Triple-A. Entering his age-25 season, he is looking more and more like a Quadruple-A bat, and he will really need to hit at Triple-A or get traded to get another extended opportunity in the majors.

In some organizations, Fisher would be a prized prospect, embarking on a potentially prosperous career. However, not only are the Astros stocked at the major-league level, they have a top prospect, fellow outfielder Kyle Tucker, knocking on the Minute Maid Park door. Fisher didn't aid his cause, scuffling in his rookie campaign, slashing a meek .212/.307/.356 in 166 plate appearances. Adding to the disappointment, this came on the heels of a .318/.384/.583 start to the season for Triple-A Fresno. Like many young hitters, contact was Fisher's flaw as he fanned at a 33 percent pace. A corresponding 10 percent walk rate is encouraging, along with a history of fewer whiffs in the minors. Steals have been a contributing element to Fisher's game except for last year when he pilfered 19, three with the Astros. Fisher deserves a chance to see if his power-speed-combo can play regularly, it doesn't appear he'll get the opportunity with the defending champions.

The Astros have challenged Fisher with an aggressive promotion through the system, and so far, he's answered the call at every step. While he hit just .245 in 102 games with Double-A Corpus Christi in 2016, he got on base at a .373 clip on the strength of a robust 16.5 percent walk rate. Fisher added 16 homers and 23 steals (30 attempts) with Corpus Christi, earning a promotion to Triple-A Fresno for the final 27 games of the season. Although his walk rate plummeted in the small sample with Fresno, Fisher took well generally to the hitter-friendly PCL, upping his ISO to .215 and his average to .290. Now 23, Fisher probably needs another full season to marinate in the minor leagues, but by 2018, he may be polished enough to push for regular spot in the Houston outfield.

The 37th overall pick of the Astros in 2014, Fisher combines impressive power and speed tools with a good approach at the plate, posting a 23.9% strikeout and 11.8% walk rate in 398 plate appearances in the California League. The 22-year-old outfielder broke a league record that stood for 61 years with 12 RBI in his debut with High-A Lancaster and he finished the season with 16 home runs, 63 RBI, and 23 steals in 84 games with the JetHawks. Fisher, who was named to the AFL Fall Stars game after getting on base at a .375 clip over 15 games, should be the radar in dynasty formats as he prepares to open 2016 with Double-A Corpus Christi.