Fisher welcomes return to majors

Back in a major league clubhouse for the first time in 2½ months, Derek Fisher dressed before Monday’s series opener against the Giants with his confidence invigorated after a prolonged — but “needed” — stint in Class AAA Fresno.

“I wanted to be able to use that time to get better — not that I felt like I’d gotten any worse — but I do think just the feel of the game and slowing the game down and just playing baseball,” Fisher said Monday. “It felt good, and it was a good experience, and I’m happy for it.”

The speedy, lefthanded hitting Fisher made the Astros’ opening-day roster over Tony

Kemp. In his first 77 plate appearances, Fisher hit .176 and struck out 37 times. On May 18, when he was placed on the disabled list with a gastrointestinal ailment, he had a .222 on-base percentage.

“Getting into a season and getting into a good rhythm (is key),” Fisher said Monday. “I got out of it pretty quickly here.”

Once Fisher was activated from the DL, Kemp had entrenched himself on the 25-man roster. Fisher was immediately optioned to Class AAA. He toiled there until Monday, when he was summoned to replace George Springer on the active roster.

“Fish needed to go down and decompress, get his mind right, and get his energy geared toward what he needs to do to be successful and not carry excess baggage from at-bat to at-bat or at-bats to the field,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “His game awareness picked up, his overall enjoyment of playing picked up, and I think he’s an overall more relaxed player.”

Fisher exited Class AAA with an .860 OPS after 55 games. He hit 10 doubles and 10 home runs in 232 plate appearances and stole 10 bases.

“The challenge will be can he keep that same hunger, that same curiosity, that same balance he was able to keep in Triple-A while he’s playing for a spot to stay here,” Hinch said.

Fisher didn’t start either game at San Francisco but got one at-bat in each, striking out both times.