A highly touted first-round pick in 2002, Prince Fielder was a physically imposing left-handed slugger who had spent his childhood taking batting practice in big league stadiums alongside his father, Cecil. Debuting in 2005, he quickly became the centerpiece of a young, explosive core that aimed to bring winning baseball back to the shores of Lake Michigan.
In 2007, his second full season, Fielder blasted 50 home runs, making him the youngest player in baseball history to reach that plateau and surpassing the franchise record previously held by Gorman Thomas. This early stretch served as the formal introduction to a player who paired elite strength with a surprising technical discipline at the plate, earning him his first of three Silver Slugger Awards and a third-place finish in the MVP voting. Basically, like father, like son!
In 2009 and 2011, Fielder established himself as a top power hitter. In 2009, he led the National League with 141 RBIs and was the first Brewer to win the Home Run Derby. In 2011, he hit 38 home runs and drove in 120 runs, securing his spot as a perennial All-Star. His high offensive level included an on-base percentage over .400 in three seasons.
Between 2006 and 2011, he was a fixture in the middle of the diamond, famously playing in 162 games in three seasons. While mainly known for power, he showed versatility with a .299 batting average as a Brewer, proving he's a complete hitter rather than a one-dimensional slugger. His stats include 230 home runs and 656 RBIs, reflecting a high-volume contribution during the team's most successful era.
After helping the Brewers reach the 2011 NLCS, he departed in free agency for the Detroit Tigers. Fielder was inducted into the Brewers Wall of Honor in 2018 and the Walk of Fame in 2022.
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