Dominic Fletcher, heading into his fifth professional season, is finally looking into a year of regularlity at the Major League level.
The former Diamondbacks outfielder, who played three years for Arkansas in college, was traded to the White Sox over the winter. As spring training starts in earnest this week, Fletcher appears to be the odds-on favorite to take over starting duties in right field for Chicago.
According to White Sox general manger Chris Getz, who once roamed second base for the Southsiders, Fletcher has “a leg up” in the competition for the gig. Oscar Colas and Gavin Sheets are also in the running.
Fletcher slashed .301/.350/.441 in 102 at-bats for the National League champs last year, but was blocked from regular playing time. Getz and the Sox acquired him in January for pitching prospect Cristian Mena. At the Triple-A level with Reno, Fletcher was even better with an on-base percentage at .400 and slugging .500.
If he were to win the job, Chicago would have two former Arkansas outfielders in the starting lineup. Andrew Benintendi, arguably the best player in Diamond Hogs history, is the team’s starting leftfielder.