Dominic Fletcher should have every opportunity to become an MLB regular in 2024.
After playing in 28 games last year and making Major League debut with the eventual National League champion Arizona Diamondbacks, Fletcher was traded over the weekend to the Chicago White Sox for pitcher Christian Mena.
Fletcher impressed in his time in The Show, slashing .301/.350/.440 in 102 plate appearances. But with Arizona’s outfield solidified by Lourdes Gurriel, Alek Thomas and Corbin Carroll, playing time was hard to come by in the desert without injuries.
Fletcher, 26, will get a chance to start for Chicago this spring. He is joining an outfield in which only Luis Robert and former Diamond Hogs star Andrew Benintendi have spots locked in. Fletcher will compete with Jake DeLoach, Oscar Colas and, to a lesser extent, Gavin Sheets, who also plays first base.
With Arkansas from 2017-19, Fletcher slashed .298/.360/.497 with 42 home runs and 201 RBI while patrolling centerfield. At just 5-foot-6, his home run totals in the pros haven’t matched his collegiate statistics, but Fletcher has continued to show an ability to rack up extra-base hits throughout his four years in the Diamondbacks system.
Pitchers and catchers report for the White Sox on Valentine’s Day and the rest of the players will show up five days later. Chicago opens spring training February 23 against normal cross-town rivals the Cubs.