AngelsWin.com Today: #13 David Fletcher – AngelsWin.com Top 30 Prospects Countdown

[AngelsWin.com]

Prospect: David Fletcher           Rank: 13

2015/16: 20                                       Position(s): Infield

Level: AA Mobile                               Age: Entering Age 23 season in 2017.

Height: 5’10”                                      Weight: 175 lb.

               Present – Future

Hitting Ability         45  50

Power                      30  30

Base Running         55  55

Patience                   45  50

Fielding                    65  70

Range                       60  60

Arm                           60  60

Overall                      40  50

Floor: Defensive Specialist in MLB

Ceiling: Starting second baseman or shortstop in MLB

Likely Outcome: High quality, glove first – utility infielder.

Summary: Fletcher is one of the few prospects where what you see is inevitably what you get.  Normally we use this in the context that a prospect simply won’t improve, but with Fletcher it’s not a bad thing.  Coming out of unheralded regional powerhouse Loyola Marymount, Fletcher was so far developed that he gave scouts a bit more certainty in who they were drafting than is common.  Fletcher is a very good defensive middle infielder with solid bat to ball skills, but little in the way of power and speed.  It isn’t the sexiest package, but he is a near certain lock to be a major leaguer, especially under an Eppler-led organization that puts so much emphasis on defense.  Fletcher continues to draw comparisons with Angel legend David Eckstein and those comps are pretty fair.  Fletcher has a very short path to the ball and is a line drive hitter.  His offensive game is rather simplistic.  If it’s a strike, he’ll hit it.  If it isn’t, he won’t swing.

Defensively, Fletcher has a sure glove, quick transition, good footwork and a strong arm.  His range is above average at best, but the rest of his game is solid, consistent.  Fletcher profiles best as a utility infielder because of his defense first skill set, however, there are some that believe Fletcher has enough bat to hold down a regular job in the majors.  I don’t completely disagree with this.  Fletcher reminds me a lot of David Eckstein or even Maicer Izturis, and coming up they both profiled as utility infielders, but once in the majors, they made the adjustments and were capable of holding down a regular job.  At any rate, Fletcher is a major leaguer, is some capacity.

From a production standpoint, Fletcher was highly successful last year.  He really opened some eyes in Spring Training, and logged some time in major league camp.  Every time the Angels got him into the game, he started getting clutch hit after clutch hit, including a run scoring double off Dodgers super-prospect Julio Urias.  Fletcher had injury woes while in the Cal League and thus the numbers didn’t match his ability.  Once he was healthy, he started to really get into a groove.  That .300 batting average in AA is a result of Fletcher coming in hot and staying hot.  David was simply ok in the Arizona Fall League, he was a reserve so he didn’t get the playing time other more hyped prospects got.  Still, he was solid.

What to expect next season: Fletcher is expected to make a return trip to AA next season.  He logged 20 games in Arkansas last year, and he hit .300, and it doesn’t look like it was a fluke.  But Fletcher could still use a little more time to fine tune his current skills.  We’ll see if David can see the same success next year as he did last year.  If he does, we may see Fletcher in the majors in 2017.  There’s also the off chance Fletcher opens camp in AAA, which makes his appearance in Anaheim next year all but certain.  Though it’s completely unlikely, Fletcher could potentially unseat Cliff Pennington as the utility infielder at some point this season.  More likely, he’ll inherit the job next year.

Estimated Time of Arrival: 2018, as a 24 year old. .

Grade as a prospect: C+

Grades are given from the 20-80 scouting scale.  20-being non-existent ability, 80-being the best I’ve ever seen.  MLB average is 50.

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[Chuck]

I could see Fletcher replacing Pennington sooner rather than later on this team.

[Second Base]

Well, I think the team needs a veteran presence that's been there, for clubhouse reasons. There's a delicate balance that needs to take place. 

Because the difference between their performances would be a wash at this point, I think the biggest reason Fletcher would take over was if this team suddenly turned stale and needed new blood. Like the year we promoted Bourjos and Trumbo, the team just kind of needed a rejuvenation.

[SlappyUtilityMIF]

He also came up with some Big late inning RBI's last Spring!!! 

I agree Scotty, But, if Fletcher takes job from Cliff this spring I wouldn't be afraid of him playing anywhere in the infield......

[Chuck]

I also wonder if Sherman Johnson & Kaleb Cowart will make Fletcher expendable since they too can play multiple positions.

[Angelsjunky]

I know the farm is weak, but I'm still unclear why you guys have Fletcher at #13. Players like this are a dime a dozen. I would have thought you'd rate higher ceiling players above him.

[Second Base]

30 minutes ago, Angelsjunky said:

I know the farm is weak, but I'm still unclear why you guys have Fletcher at #13. Players like this are a dime a dozen. I would have thought you'd rate higher ceiling players above him.

I think if I could go back, I'd probably rank a couple guys higher, like Campos, or even Sherman. Fletcher isn't quite a dine a dozen though. He's good enough not to get the bat knocked out of his hands, and is a sure defender. It may not seem like much, but Eckstein or Izturis were a couple of very solid infielders.

[Chuck]

30 minutes ago, Angelsjunky said:

I know the farm is weak, but I'm still unclear why you guys have Fletcher at #13. Players like this are a dime a dozen. I would have thought you'd rate higher ceiling players above him.

I'll let @Scotty@AW answer this, but I believe it's because of his ability to do a lot of things right on both sides of the ball, minus the power dept.

While he may just be a utility player, they certainly have an easier path and longer tenure in the big leagues than say a high upside/ceiling arm, or toolsy player on offense. 

I think at the end of the day when you look at a prospect list, it's rating who has the better chance at cracking the big leagues and having some success at that level for some time.

[Docwaukee]

1 hour ago, Angelsjunky said:

I know the farm is weak, but I'm still unclear why you guys have Fletcher at #13. Players like this are a dime a dozen. I would have thought you'd rate higher ceiling players above him.

I totally know what you are saying here and for the most part I agree.  I think he's probably in our 20-30 range.  

That said, the hit tool can get overlooked and he's got a solid one.  For that reason, he's not totally just a dime a dozen guy.  

Personally, I was hoping for a little more from his last year.  Particularly on the obp side.  But he didn't embarrass himself.  

So yeah.  Likely outcome isn't exactly exciting, but there is a little more potential there than just your garden variety utility guy.  

[Angelsjunky]

OK, fair enough, guys. He seems like the type of guy you hope is hitting .314 at the trade deadline, and then you can use him as a Rondon to bring in a needed piece.

[Second Base]

32 minutes ago, Angelsjunky said:

OK, fair enough, guys. He seems like the type of guy you hope is hitting .314 at the trade deadline, and then you can use him as a Rondon to bring in a needed piece.

He strikes me as Andrew Romine with a better batting average. He's made a solid living in Detroit. But guys that project to be utility infielders generally don't carry a ton of value as trade candidates. 

The irony is that Rondon carried considerably more value in a trade than Fletcher would, yet because of the certainty surrounding Fletcher and his outcome, and the lack of certainty around Rondon, they'll probably end up in the same role.

[Angelsjunky]

Well Rondon was more projectible, given his age and level. My point was simply that his value could be artificially elevated a bit by an artificially elevated batting average.

[Angel Oracle]

6 hours ago, Scotty@AW said:

He strikes me as Andrew Romine with a better batting average. He's made a solid living in Detroit. But guys that project to be utility infielders generally don't carry a ton of value as trade candidates.

Or a Johnny G with much better defense?

[SlappyUtilityMIF]

5 hours ago, Angel Oracle said:

Or a Johnny G with much better defense?

This! And a better arm AO.....

[Jeff Fletcher]

He keeps calling me "Mr. Fletcher" this spring, which is a little annoying. I'm not that old!

[Chuck]

7 minutes ago, Jeff Fletcher said:

He keeps calling me "Mr. Fletcher" this spring, which is a little annoying. I'm not that old!

Just tell him to call you, Fletch! 

[OregonLAA]

I like what I've seen out of him in spring training so far

[Erstad Grit]

Izturis was so clutch here. What a fantastic bench player. 

[Second Base]

Fletcher has shown up ready to impress last year and this year on Spring Training. You want to impress a coach and become a fan favorite? Arrive to Spring Training in mid-season form, plays good defense and get timely hits.

[Glen]

15 hours ago, Scotty@AW said:

Fletcher has shown up ready to impress last year and this year on Spring Training. You want to impress a coach and become a fan favorite? Arrive to Spring Training in mid-season form, plays good defense and get timely hits.

You should talk with Maybin.