The Atlanta Braves' offseason is set to be a busy one after multiple down seasons. But, aside from Drake Baldwin winning the NL Rookie of the Year Award, the first bit of player news for the Braves comes from the minor leagues.
As Robert Murray of Fansided.com reports, former Los Angeles Angels and current Braves minor league infielder David Fletcher is retiring from baseball.
Fletcher, a seven-year MLB veteran, had made a big career change in 2025. He went from being an infielder to experimenting as a pitcher. While he had a few highlights, this career revitalization attempt failed as a pitcher, but an effort worth commending.
Braves, Angels infielder retires after failed pitching experiment
Fletcher was a long-time Major Leaguer with the Angels, where he became a fan-favorite infielder. He hit.277/.323/.359 in his six seasons with the Angels.
Back in 2021, Fletcher signed a $26 million contract over five years, with a couple of club options that could add an extra $15 million to the deal.
After Atlanta declined his $8 million option in 2026 using a $1.5 million buyout, Fletcher retired from professional baseball.
He spent just one season with the Braves after they traded for him and Max Stassi in a deal with the Angels. Tyler Thomas and Evan White went to Los Angeles in that 2024 trade.
But his stint in the Majors with the Braves was very brief, playing in just five games in 2024 with a.250 average and a.472 OPS before being demoted to the minor leagues.
More: Braves bring back $7M World Series fan favorite after GM Alex Anthopoulos cast doubt on future
After joining the Braves' minor league system, he debuted as a pitcher, throwing a knuckleball as he tried to revive his MLB career. His first start was promising, going five innings, allowing two runs, and striking out six hitters.
But, across two seasons with the Braves in the minor leagues, Fletcher wound up posting a 6.42 ERA in 23 appearances (18 starts) with 42 strikeouts. His 101 innings pitched weren't a small amount for this experiment, making his effort worth commending.
Fletcher retires from baseball at 31 years old, after seven years in the Majors with the Angels and Braves.
He finishes his MLB career with 10.3 bWAR, 560 hits, 98 doubles, 10 triples, 16 home runs, 250 runs scored, 170 RBIs, 29 stolen bases, 135 walks, 209 strikeouts, and a career.276 average and a.681 OPS in 539 games played.
More Braves news:
- Rangers' 2.18 ERA starter could be great fit for Atlanta Braves in free agency
- Braves predicted to replace Ha-Seong Kim with 2-time World Series MVP, 5-time All-Star
- Braves predicted to reunite with $58M golden arm, 869 strikeout reliever after up-and-down season
- Braves bring back $7M World Series fan favorite after GM Alex Anthopoulos cast doubt on future
- Braves insider questions if Walt Weiss was GM Alex Anthopoulos' first choice after long delay