Derek Fisher Powers Up

Best Player

Astros manager A.J. Hinch on several occasions recently has referred to outfielder Derek Fisher as the best player in the Pacific Coast League this season.

Fisher, a supplemental first-round pick out of Virginia in 2014, has certainly broken out this year behind improved power numbers stemming from his offseason and spring focus to hit more balls in the air. The toolsy lefthanded batter debuted with the Astros in mid-June when Josh Reddick needed a stint on the seven-day concussion list and homered twice in five games.

Through his first 66 games at Triple-A Fresno, Fisher batted .315/.379/.581 with 17 home runs. He hit 21 homers all of last year at Double-A Corpus Christi and Fresno combined.

“First off, he’s one of the most explosive athletes we have in the organization,” farm director Pete Putila said. “I think the second thing is (he) really controls the zone and knows what he can drive . . . He’s very selective, waiting for the pitch that he can actually drive.”

Biggest Leap Forward

First baseman Yordan Alvarez drew rave reviews from the Astros during his time at their academy in the Dominican Republic last year, but it wasn’t until he reached low Class A Quad Cities this spring that his bat become better known around the industry.

The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Alvarez, a 19-year-old Cuban, batted .360/.468/.658 with nine home runs in the Midwest League. His tenure with Quad Cities lasted just 32 games before he was promoted on June 23 to high Class A Buies Creek.

“He’s got a really advanced approach, and that really allows his power to play in the game. He’s not chasing pitches,” Putila said. “He knows what he’s looking for.”

The Astros acquired the lefthanded-hitting Alvarez at last year’s trade deadline from the Dodgers for reliever Josh Fields. The Dodgers had signed Alvarez a month before trading him for $2 million as the 2015-16 international signing period came to a close.