Prince Fielder

Fielder was a first-round bust of epic proportions in 2014 thanks to a neck issue that required season-ending surgery in the first half of the season. He tried to play through the pain, but could not drive the ball the way he has done throughout his career. Instead of a 40-plus home run season in a friendly ballpark, he hit three home runs and left a lot of owners very frustrated. His surgery was a success and he was swinging a bat toward the end of the season, but he still missed a ton of live action. Back and neck surgeries are not very routine in baseball and anything related to the back is a problem area for power hitters as their core is critical to their swing. As a result, Fielder is a high-risk, high-reward target on draft day.

Following a disappointing 2013 campaign (by his lofty standards, at least), Fielder was traded from Detroit to Texas in a rare 1-for-1 swap of All-Star players. Fielder took a step back in multiple categories, including a drop in OPS from .940 to .819, his worst mark since becoming an everyday major leaguer. His ISO dropped to .178 – well below his career mark of .212 – but Fielder’s batted-ball rates and advanced measures of plate discipline remained similar to his career norms in most categories. The one noticeable drop came in his HR/FB ratio, which dropped to a career-low 13.5 percent. While Fielder is arguably coming off his worst season since 2006, there’s still plenty of value to be had from the big first baseman. He continued to drive in runs at an elite level, finishing fifth in the AL with 106 RBI. Fielder also continued his impressive stretch of staying injury-free, appearing in all 162 games for the third consecutive season. While Fielder’s body type may raise legitimate concern that he will decline from elite levels at a faster rate than other hitters of his ilk, the 30-year-old slugger shouldn’t be considered past his prime just yet. His immense run producing potential in a solid Rangers lineup will keep his overall fantasy value afloat and there’s a strong possibility he'll bounce back from his drop in ISO to post much better power numbers with his move from Comerica Park to Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, which has historically boosted left-handed home runs.

Unless you nitpick, there is not much to complain about with Fielder's production during his first season in a Tigers uniform. The rotund first baseman still ranked near the top of the league leader boards in many offensive categories, finishing the season with a career-high batting average (.313) while hitting 30 home runs, 108 RBI, which marked the fifth time in six seasons Fielder has hit 30 or more homers while plating 100 or more runs. His increase in batting average was due to improved discipline at the plate, as Fielder struck out fewer than 100 times (84) for the first time since becoming an everyday player at the major league level. The only downside to his campaign was a drop in power, as he was a victim of moving from hitter-friendly Miller Park to the more neutral Comerica Park. The new stomping grounds will make it difficult for the 28-year-old slugger to ever revert back to his days of slugging 40-50 homers, but a better eye at the plate and better protection in the lineup (Victor Martinez) will make it easier for Fielder to continue posting improved batting averages.

Fielder continued his stellar career in 2011, hitting .299/.415/.566 while reducing his strikeout rate and increasing his walk rate over previous seasons. He inked a nine-year, $214-million deal with the Tigers this offseason. The lefty slugger will slide into the middle of the Tigers' lineup alongside Miguel Cabrera. Fielder is expected to be the Tigers' primary first baseman, but he'll also see time at designated hitter.

Fielder continued to alternate good and great seasons by having just a good season in 2010. He hit .261/.401/.471 with 32 home runs and 83 RBI, which is a down season by his standards. He's known for getting off to slow starts and last season was no different. Fielder will be in his contract season in 2011 and will be looking to cash in big when it's over, while trade rumors will continue to swirl if the Brewers aren't in a position to contend when the July 31 trade deadline approaches.

Fielder had what may have been his best season in 2009 at age 25. He hit .299/.412/.602 and was the first Brewer ever to walk more than 100 times in one season. People are always concerned that his body type is going to slow him down, but he's still relatively young and hasn't shown any signs of that happening. He's got two more years left in Milwaukee until he becomes a free agent so there is always a chance he'll get traded to the American League, but it's doubtful it will happen before the next offseason.

It's hard to hit .276/.372/.507 as a 24-year-old and be considered a disappointment, but Fielder pulled that off in 2008 due to all of the expectations coming off of his 50-homer 2007 season. While the overall numbers may not stand out, he rebounded from a slow start to hit .283/.392/.533 after the All-Star break. It's likely that he'll bounce back at the plate with a better season in 2009, but his defense will likely slide even further. The Brewers will put up with it for the next few seasons and then he may need to move to an AL team where he can DH for the remainder of his career.

Fielder hit 50 home runs in just his second full season in the major leagues and made a run at the MVP award. He didn't wear down in the second half either, putting up a 1.034 OPS after the All-Star break. He gets a slight downgrade for his defense, but more than makes up for it with his offense. There really isn't anything that would point to last season being a fluke. In fact, his .286 BABIP could mean that he's got room for an even better season in 2008.

Fielder had what would usually be a Rookie of the Year type season as a 22 year old, but still finished well behind a few other rookies in the voting. He hit .271 with 28 home runs and even stole seven bases during his first full year in the majors. His defense wasn't very good, but it was sufficient and will improve. The Brewers are hoping he can develop into the middle-of-the-order power hitter that they desperately need. Expect big things from Fielder in 2007 as he matures and continues to improve his strike-zone judgment.

Fielder crushed the ball for Triple-A Nashville, hitting .289 with 27 home runs in 374 AB before being called up to Milwaukee. He held his own at the major league level and should be starting for the Brewers this year, with Lyle Overbay now a Blue Jay.

Fielder's stats fell off a little bit at Double-A Huntsville, but some family issues that didn't surface publicly until after the season may have contributed. He was still able to hit .272 with 23 HR in the pitcher friendly Southern League, while also walking 65 times. Fielder is still only 20 years old and will get another year in the minors at Triple-A. A strong showing there could get him a late season call-up, but he probably won't make an impact with the Brewers until 2006.

Fielder was the Midwest League Player of the Year in 2003 and won a few national Minor League Player of the Year awards as well. He may start the year at high Single-A High Desert but will probably push his way up to Double-A or higher. He's still a little too young for the Brewers roster, but could be ready by 2005.

Fielder has the most power potential of any of the lower level’s top prospects. The son of “Big Daddy” Cecil Fielder could actually offer more power than his 50 home run hitting father. Unlike his father, Prince has a beautiful swing from the left-handed side of the plate and projects to hit for a higher average than Dad did. The result of growing up in a big league environment gives Fielder a far more advanced understanding of hitting than 18-year-olds are supposed to have. The fact he was taking batting practice with the New York Yankees when was 12 years old, and launching upper deck shots, gives him an edge few others ever experience. All signs point to him having a better career than Cecil, but concerns are like as well. His weight has been as high as 300 lbs, although he’s currently around 265. At this point in his life, the weight is less of a concern but the body type suggests it will be as he ages. He’s a better athlete than his father, but that still projects to a below average first basemen. 2003 should see him in A-Ball but it’s possible they won’t be able to contain his bat, and he may advance to Double-A as a 19-year-old. While many consider him a Boom or Bust type, it should be noted he’s better in all facets of the game than his father was, and Big Daddy had a pretty good career.