Player News

• Braves' David Fletcher: Dabbling with knuckleball at Triple-A

  05/30/2024 • By RotoWire

  Fletcher made his first career start as a pitcher for Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday, striking out six over five innings while allowing two earned runs on three hits and and one walk in a 5-2 win over Norfolk. Primarily an infielder since entering the professional ranks in 2015, Fletcher saw action in five games with Atlanta earlier this season and has been making regular starts at second base for Gwinnett since being outrighted off the 40-man roster in late April. However, the 29-year-old recently informed club officials that he had been tinkering with a knuckleball, and he impressed enough in workouts for the Gwinnett coaching staff to give him the chance to pitch in games earlier this month. Fletcher was tagged for six earned runs over six innings across his first four relief appearances for Gwinnett, but upon stepping into a starting role Wednesday, he delivered his lengthiest and best outing yet. Fletcher will likely need to turn in at least a few more quality performances on the mound for Gwinnett before Atlanta contemplates bringing him back on the big-league roster as a pitcher and utility infielder. There's also the matter of an ongoing investigation from Major League Baseball into Fletcher's involvement with the same Southern California bookmaker used by Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. According to Tisha Thompson of ESPN.com, sources familiar with the booking operation relay that Fletcher didn't place any bets on baseball, but clarity on whether Fletcher will receive any punishment related to his gambling activities won't become clear until the investigation concludes.

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• Braves' David Fletcher: To be investigated by MLB

  05/18/2024 • By RotoWire

  Major League Baseball intends to open an investigation into a reported gambling situation involving Fletcher and bookmaker Mathew Bowyer, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Per Tisha Thompson of ESPN, Fletcher placed bets on multiple sports but did not bet on baseball. MLB allows players to bet on other sports, but doing so through illegal bookmakers such as Bowyer -- the same bookmaker used by Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara -- is prohibited and punishable at the discretion of the commissioner.

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• Braves' David Fletcher: Outrighted to Triple-A

  04/25/2024 • By RotoWire

  Fletcher was sent outright to Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday. Fletcher appeared in five games for Atlanta after being selected from Triple-A on April 16, going 2-for-8 with two RBI. He will remain in the organization for now but has the ability to elect free agency. No corresponding move was announced alongside Fletcher's demotion, which may point toward a potential return from the IL for Ozzie Albies (toe) before Friday's game against Cleveland.

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• Braves' David Fletcher: Joining big-league club

  04/16/2024 • By RotoWire

  Atlanta selected Fletcher's contract from Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday. The 29-year-old was unable to secure a place on Atlanta's Opening Day roster but will join the big club with Ozzie Albies headed to the injured list with a toe fracture. Fletcher could fill the small side of a platoon at second base with Luis Guillorme while Albies is sidelined.

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• Braves' David Fletcher: Roster bid falls short

  03/18/2024 • By RotoWire

  Atlanta reassigned Fletcher to minor-league camp Monday. He was sent to minor-league camp Monday along with Luke Williams, Andrew Velazquez and Eli White, with their demotions suggesting that Forrest Wall has won the final available bench spot on Atlanta's Opening Day roster. Fletcher hit .324/.366/.351 over 16 games during Grapefruit League play.

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