“Best known for getting Shohei Ohtani into gambling”

ancient Angels of Los Angeles infielder David Fletcher has officially left professional baseball, marking the end of an era after seven MLB seasons.

At 31, Fletcher was trying to transition into a pitching role with the Bras but he stepped away from the game for a season into a new organizational setup.

Fletcher debuted with the Angels in 2018 and quickly became known as a gap hitter with an incredibly high contact approach, and as a defender whose versatility was unique for a player his size at 5-foot-9. In six seasons with the Angels, Fletcher hit .277 with 16 home runs and 168 RBIs in 534 games.

At the end of 2023, Fletcher was traded to the Braves, and throughout the organization in 2025, Fletcher traveled between Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett trying to reinvent himself as a pitcher, playing a total of 20 games as a pitcher. Despite his desire and renewed passion for the game, Fletcher was not successful often enough to reach the Major Leagues.

His decision to walk away from the game quickly sparked a wave of reaction online, with fans mixing humor and irony as they looked back on his unusual career.

“Best known for getting Ohtani into gambling,” one fan wrote.

“Will use the $200 cap to your advantage,” another fan he said.

“Right after MLB capped individual bets…” said one fan he commented.

“Definitely nailed it with this one,” another fan he wrote.

“Ironic that he's pulling out of launch after they limit launch props,” one fan he tweeted.

“Buddy cashed his checks and then took the plunge,” another fan he said.

Fletcher's name previously came up in MLB betting investigation tied to Ohtani's former player

Fletcher's retirement also brings renewed attention to a story from earlier this year, when ESPN reported that the former Angels outfielder had been linked to an illegal sports betting ring connected to thin-1″ target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer” data-is-sponsored=”false”>Shohei Ohtani's former performer, Ippei Mizuhara.

According to the report, Fletcher and his close friend Colby Schultz, a former Royals minor leaguer, placed bets through Mathew Bowyer, the same Southern California bookie at the center of the federal investigation.

Federal prosecutors alleged that Mizuhara stole more than $16 million from Ohtani to cover gambling debts. The ESPN report noted that Fletcher's bets did not involve baseball, although Schultz had bet on games with the Angels while Fletcher was on the roster.

MLB rules prohibit players from betting on baseball games and assisting others to bet on baseball games. The league acknowledged at the time that it was aware of it, but took no action against Fletcher.

While the investigation has died down, the return of those details with Fletcher's retirement announcement has reignited discussions about one of 2024's strangest off-field stories about Edmonds.