Aaron Fletcher

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Aaron Fletcher

|image =

|team = Free agent

|number =

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|2|25}}

|birth_place = Geneseo, Illinois, U.S.

|bats = Left

|throws = Left

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = August 22

|debutyear = 2020

|debutteam = Seattle Mariners

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = 2022 season

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 0–1

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 9.15

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 15

|teams =

Seattle Mariners ({{mlby|2020}}–{{mlby|2021}})
Pittsburgh Pirates ({{mlby|2022}})

}}

Aaron Eugene Fletcher (born February 25, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners and Pittsburgh Pirates. He played college baseball for the University of Houston. Fletcher was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 14th round of the 2018 MLB draft.

Early life

Fletcher attended Langham Creek High School in Houston, Texas.{{cite news|url=https://www.chron.com/sports/highschool/article/Langham-Creek-s-Fletcher-is-All-Greater-Houston-5568661.php|title=Langham Creek's Fletcher is All-Greater Houston Pitcher of the Year|author=Jason McDaniel|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|date=June 21, 2014|access-date=August 1, 2019}} He attended the University of Houston and played college baseball for the Cougars.{{cite news|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/cougars/article/Fletcher-shows-elbow-injury-is-in-the-past-12932474.php|title=Award proves injury is in the past for UH pitcher Aaron Fletcher|author=Joseph Duarte|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|date=May 21, 2018|access-date=August 1, 2019}} Fletcher underwent Tommy John surgery on March 11, 2016. in 2018 after going 7-3 with a 2.19 ERA in 94.1 innings, Fletcher was named the AAC 2018 Pitcher of the Year.{{cite web | url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=fletch000aar | title=Aaron Fletcher College, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics & History }}

Career

=Washington Nationals=

Fletcher was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 14th round, with the 431st overall selection, of the 2018 MLB draft.{{cite news|url=https://www.chron.com/sports/cougars/article/UH-pitcher-Trey-Cumbie-drafted-by-Tampa-Bay-12972443.php|title=UH draft update: Pitchers Trey Cumbie, Aaron Fletcher, Joey Pulido taken|author=Joseph Duarte|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|date=June 6, 2018|access-date=August 1, 2019}} In 2018, he played for the Gulf Coast Nationals and the Auburn Doubledays, going 2–1 with a 2.90 ERA in 31 innings.{{cite news|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/aaron-fletcher-667465|title=Aaron Fletcher|work=MLB.com|access-date=August 1, 2019}} He pitched for the Hagerstown Suns, Potomac Nationals, and Harrisburg Senators in the Washington organization in 2019, going a combined 5–4 with a 1.79 ERA in 60 innings.

=Seattle Mariners=

On July 31, 2019, the Nationals traded Fletcher, Taylor Guilbeau, and Elvis Alvarado to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Roenis Elías and Hunter Strickland.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/07/31/nationals-bolster-bullpen-with-trade-deadline-deals-daniel-hudson-roenis-elias/|title=Nationals bolster bullpen at trade deadline, but division-leading Braves load up, too|author=Jesse Dougherty|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=July 31, 2019|access-date=July 31, 2019}} He was assigned to the Arkansas Travelers, compiling a 3.46 ERA over 13 innings.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=fletch000aar|title=Aaron Fletcher College, Minor & Fall League Statistics & History |work=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |accessdate=18 May 2022}} Fletcher played for the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League following the 2019 season, and was named a Fall League All-Star.{{cite news |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2019-mlb-arizona-fall-league-all-star-game-rosters-announced/ |title=2019 MLB Arizona Fall League All-Star Game Rosters Announced |first=Mark |last=Chiarelli |work=BaseballAmerica.com |date=October 8, 2019 |accessdate=May 17, 2022}}

Fletcher had his contract selected to the active roster on August 21, 2020.{{cite web |url=https://www.milb.com/player/aaron-fletcher-667465 |title=Aaron Fletcher Stats, Fantasy & News |work=MiLB.com |accessdate=18 May 2022}} He made his major league debut the next day, throwing a scoreless inning in relief against the Texas Rangers.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/debuts/_/year/2020/month/august |title=August 2020 MLB Debuts – Major League Baseball |work=ESPN.com |accessdate=18 May 2022}} In 2020, he pitched 4.1 innings for the Mariners. In 2021, Fletcher made 4 appearances for Seattle, struggling to a 12.27 ERA with 2 strikeouts. He spent the majority of the year with Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, making 39 appearances and registering 4-0 record and 3.47 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 49.1 innings pitched.{{Cite web|title=LHP Aaron Fletcher and C José Godoy claimed on waivers as Mariners clear two roster spots for… something?|url=https://www.lookoutlanding.com/2022/3/13/22975841/lhp-aaron-fletcher-c-jose-godoy-claimed-waivers-giants-pirates-mariners-two-40-man-roster-spots|access-date=2023-05-01|website=lookoutlanding.com|date=13 March 2022 |language=en}}

=Pittsburgh Pirates=

On March 13, 2022, Fletcher was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates.{{cite web|url=https://marinersblog.mlblogs.com/mariners-lhp-aaron-fletcher-claimed-off-waivers-by-pittsburgh-58458b67748c|title=Mariners LHP Aaron Fletcher Claimed off Waivers by Pittsburgh|date=March 13, 2022|access-date=March 13, 2022}} He split time between the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians and the Pirates. In 9 appearances for Pittsburgh, he struggled to an 0-1 record and 6.94 ERA with 6 strikeouts in 11.2 innings pitched. Concurrently, his Indianapolis numbers were far better, with a 1.45 ERA with 9 strikeouts in 18.2 innings of work.{{Cite web|title=Pittsburgh Pirates News: Aaron Fletcher Recalled|url=https://rumbunter.com/2022/06/28/pittsburgh-pirates-aaron-fletcher-recalled-news/|access-date=2023-05-01|website=rumbunter.com|date=28 June 2022 |language=en}} On July 8, 2022, Fletcher was designated for assignment.

=San Francisco Giants=

On July 14, 2022, Fletcher was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants.{{cite web|title=Giants' Aaron Fletcher: Claimed by Giants|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/giants-aaron-fletcher-claimed-by-giants/|access-date=2023-04-21|website=cbssports.com|date=14 July 2022 |language=en}} Following the waiver claim of Alex Young on July 18, Fletcher was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats.{{cite web|title=Giants' Aaron Fletcher: Outrighted to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/giants-aaron-fletcher-outrighted-to-triple-a/|access-date=2023-04-21|website=cbssports.com|date=18 July 2022 |language=en}} He made 15 appearances for Triple-A Sacramento, struggling immensely to the tune of a 15.15 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 13.2 innings pitched.

Fletcher began the 2023 season with Sacramento, but was again hit hard, allowing 8 earned runs on 8 hits, 7 walks, and 2 strikeouts in 3.0 innings pitched. He was released by the Giants organization on April 20, 2023. Following his release, Fletcher underwent elbow surgery that had him out for the rest of the 2023 season. {{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-04-20 | title=Transactions }}

=York Revolution=

On April 16, 2024, Fletcher signed with the York Revolution of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.{{Cite web|title=Seven Up: Revs Unveil Major Batch of Roster Additions as Spring Training Gets Underway|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/seven-up-revs-unveil-major-batch-of-roster-additions-as-spring-training-gets-underway/n-6080887|access-date=April 16, 2024|website=oursportscentral.com|language=en}} In 24 games (23 starts) for the Revolution, he compiled a 6–5 record and 5.55 ERA with 95 strikeouts across 128 innings pitched. With York, Fletcher won the Atlantic League championship.{{Cite web|title=Revs Are Champs! Rhino Named MVP After Walk-off Heroics|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/revs-are-champs-rhino-named-mvp-after-walk-off-heroics/n-6151951|access-date=September 29, 2024|website=oursportscentral.com|language=en}} He became a free agent following the season.

=Caliente de Durango=

On February 4, 2025, Fletcher signed with the Caliente de Durango of the Mexican League.{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 4 de febrero de 2025|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-4-de-febrero-de-2025|access-date=February 5, 2025|website=milb.com|language=en}} In 11 appearances (four starts) for Durango, Fletcher struggled to an 0-3 record and 10.62 ERA with 13 strikeouts across {{fraction|20|1|3}} innings pitched.

=Leones de Yucatán=

On May 26, 2025, Fletcher was traded to the Leones de Yucatán of the Mexican League.{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 26 de mayo de 2025|url=https://lmb.com.mx/noticias/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-25-de-mayo-de-2025-0|access-date=May 27, 2025|website=lmb.com.mx|language=es}} He made two scoreless appearances for Yucatán, but was released by the team on June 2.{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 2 de junio de 2025|url=https://lmb.com.mx/noticias/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-2-de-junio-de-2025|access-date=June 3, 2025|website=lmb.com.mx|language=es}}