A beloved infielder, Fletcher showcased defensive versatility and hitting prowess for the Angels. His career peaks and subsequent challenges defined his seven-year journey.
Former Los Angeles Angels infielder David Fletcher is retiring from baseball, according to his agent Steve Rath of the Ballengee Group. Fletcher, 31, played with the Halos for six years, first debuting for the club in 2018.
As a native of Orange, California, Fletcher was selected by his hometown Angels team in the sixth round of the 2015 MLB Amateur Draft from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
Fletcher provided good value on the defensive side of the ball from multiple positions while also being a consistent contributor at the plate. He split time at second base, shortstop, third base, and even in the outfield at times with the Angels.
In the bigs, Fletcher had his most impactful years in his first three seasons from 2018 to 2020. He improved year after year for those first three seasons, continuously becoming a better hitter while still providing great value on the field. He recorded a WAR of 1.9 in 2018 and followed it up with a 3.7 WAR in his first full season in 2019.
His best season came in the shortened 2020 season, in which he managed a 1.9 WAR in just 49 games. He batted .319 with a .376 on-base percentage to bring his OPS to .801. His season was good enough to appear on the MVP voting list, finishing 17th in the American League. He earned a five-year, $26 million extension with the Angels in April of 2021.
Unfortunately, his following seasons saw declines from the heights he reached in 2020. He still was a consistent fielder, but his bat never returned the way it was in the shortened year. Fletcher was never able to bring his OPS back to even .650, hindering his long-term viability as an everyday player.
After playing just 94 total games across 2022 and 2023, Fletcher was traded to the Atlanta Braves after the 2023 season in exchange for first baseman Evan White and pitcher Tyler Thomas. He made just five appearances for Atlanta in 2024 before returning to the minors and trying to convert to a pitcher.
Now, after the 2025 season, Fletcher has decided it’s time to hang it up after seven years in the majors. Though his peak was short-lived and came too soon, Angels fans will remember the impact Fletcher made on the field and his humble, likeable attitude he brought day in and day out.