-
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Braves' David Fletcher: Dabbling with knuckleball at Triple-A
David 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.
-
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Braves' David Fletcher: To be investigated by MLB
Major League Baseball intends to open an investigation into a reported gambling situation involving David 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.
-
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Braves' David Fletcher: Outrighted to Triple-A
David 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.
-
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Braves' David Fletcher: Joining big-league club
Atlanta selected David 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.
-
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Braves' David Fletcher: Roster bid falls short
Atlanta reassigned David 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.
-
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Braves' David Fletcher: Still fighting for bench spot
David Fletcher got the start at shortstop in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays and went 0-for-1 with a walk and a stolen base.The 29-year-old infielder was picked up from the Angels in December but then got outrighted off the 40-man roster, which meant he came into camp with an extra hurdle to clear to make the final cut for Opening Day. Fletcher's done his best to earn a spot though, batting .310 (9-for-29) through 13 games with a 3:2 BB:K and three steals in three attempts. He could form a flexible, experienced bench duo with Luis Guillorme this season, but Atlanta manager Brian Snitker tends to lean heavily on his starters, which wouldn't leave much work around the infield for either utility player.
-
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Braves' David Fletcher: Outrighted off roster
David Fletcher was outrighted to Triple-A Gwinnett by Atlanta on Wednesday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.Given the $15.5 million left on his contract, Fletcher was easily going to pass through waivers. It's still possible that he claims a utility infielder job with Atlanta, but now the club will have a bit more 40-man roster flexibility. Fletcher has slashed just .259/.296/.327 in 251 major-league games since the beginning of the 2021 season.
-
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Braves' David Fletcher: Heads to ATL in trade
Atlanta acquired David Fletcher and Max Stassi (hip/personal) from the Angels on Friday in exchange for Evan White (hip) and Tyler Thomas, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.Fletcher enjoyed a mini breakout during the COVID-shortened 2020 season and landed a five-year, $26 million contract extension from the Angels the following spring, but he has slashed just .259/.296/.327 in 251 major-league games since the beginning of the 2021 campaign. The 29-year-old infielder still has a guaranteed $15.5 million left on his deal, which runs through 2025 with an $8 million club option for 2026 and an $8.5 million club option for 2027.
-
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Angels' David Fletcher: Heads back to bench role
David Fletcher is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rangers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.Fletcher went 3-for-13 with a walk and an RBI while making starts out of the middle infield in each of the Los Angeles Angels' last four games, but he looks as though he'll move back into more of a utility role for the final week of the regular season. Zach Neto and Michael Stefanic will form the Halos' middle-infield tandem Monday, and the Angels will likely give both youngsters regular reps at shortstop and second base, respectively, the rest of the way.
-
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Angels' David Fletcher: Knocks homer in return
David Fletcher went 2-for-4 with a solo home run Friday in a loss to Detroit.Fletcher got the start at second base in his first game since being recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday. The veteran infielder plated one of Los Angeles' two runs with a solo shot to left field in the seventh inning. Fletcher isn't likely to see everyday playing time as the Los Angeles Angels evaluate their younger talent down the stretch of what has become a lost season. He's slashing .235/.264/.373 with two homers, nine RBI and four runs over 53 big-league plate appearances on the campaign.