Douglas Wildes Fister (born February 4, 1984) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, Houston Astros, Boston Red Sox, and Texas Rangers from 2009 through 2018.
Fister was born in Merced, California and attended Golden Valley High School. He then attended Merced College, and later Fresno State University. He spent four seasons (2006–2009) in the Seattle Mariners minor league organization before being promoted to the majors. Fister pitched in the 2012 World Series for Detroit and started 9 postseason games
Fister was born February 4, 1984. His father is a fire captain who played football at Fresno State University from 1976 to 1977. His mother is a homemaker. Fister has three siblings. He grew up in Merced, California and began playing baseball at age six.
He was a fan of both the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants as a child. His favorite player was Cal Ripken Jr. Fister also played soccer, football, and basketball as a child.
Fister attended Golden Valley High School where he pitched and was the team's utility player. He was a two-year letterman and a first-team All-Central California Conference selection in his senior season, batting .456 with a home run and 12 runs batted in (RBIs). He was also named a first team all-conference selection in basketball, averaging over 30 points per game as a senior. He and former MLB catcher Dusty Ryan graduated in the same class.
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 preseason All-American. Fister was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 49th round of the 2004 Major League Baseball draft but chose to transfer to Division I Fresno State University, where he played for the Bulldogs. In 2005, Fister led Fresno State with wins (7) and was second in innings pitched (932⁄3) and strikeouts (77). He also appeared in 26 games at first base in 2005. That season, he was drafted by the New York Yankees in the sixth round but chose to stay at Fresno State for his senior season. In 2006, Fister had an 8–6 record and a 4.10 earned run average in 20 games.
The Seattle Mariners selected Fister in the seventh round of the 2006 Major League Baseball draft, and he signed on June 10, 2006. 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 of them starts. He led the AquaSox in games finished (13) and ERA, tied for second in saves and wins, and was third among pitchers in games played (20). The next season, 2007, Fister played with the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx of the Southern League. 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 in wins and home runs allowed (14), 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).
Fister returned to the Diamond Jaxx in 2008. On April 23, he 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 (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. He was also first in the Southern League in runs allowed and was second in losses and earned runs allowed. After the regular season, Fister played in the Arizona Fall League (AFL) with the Peoria Javelinas. 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 in Double-A for the third consecutive season. 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. As a result, pitcher Jason Vargas 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 on August 8, Fister pitched one inning, struck out one, gave up one hit, and gave up one walk. He made his first start on August 11 against the Chicago White Sox 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 of them starts.
In 2010, Fister started the first game for the Mariners in spring training. Going into the season, Fister, and fellow starting pitchers Garrett Olson, Luke French and 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 into the seventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles until it was broken up by Nick Markakis' leadoff single. Although the Mariners suffered early season woes, Todd Dybas of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer praised Fister and fellow starter 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."
In 2011, Fister was the Mariners' number three starter behind Félix Hernández and Vargas.
On July 30, 2011, Fister was traded to the Detroit Tigers along with relief pitcher David Pauley in exchange for Casper Wells, Charlie Furbush, Francisco Martinez, and a player to be named later. On August 17, the Tigers sent Chance Ruffin to the Mariners to complete the trade. 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 season 11–13, with an ERA of 2.83 that placed him fourth among American League (AL) pitchers.
Fister was named the AL Pitcher of the Month for September after going 5–0 with a 0.53 ERA in five starts.
Facing the New York Yankees in the AL Divisional Series (ALDS), 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 AL Championship Series (ALCS).