Fletcher, 30, tried to turn his career around by becoming a knuckleballer last year, but it didn’t take and he’s back as a position player this year. The Braves declined to invite him to major league spring training in the final year of his five-year, $26 million contract, and he opened up by going 2-for-22 at Double-A Columbus. A valuable infielder for the Angels from 2018-20, his career took a downturn in 2021, and he’s played in just 38 major league games since the beginning of 2023. He’s unlikely to add to that total anytime soon.

Yes, that David Fletcher. The former middle infielder is reinventing himself as a knuckleball pitcher in the Braves minor league system. All while making $6 million dollars this year. Fletcher’s first start was particularly impressive, especially against a loaded Baltimore Orioles Triple-A lineup. Fletcher struck out six batters, including Jackson Holliday, and walked just one. There is no way to know if the Braves will actually give Fletcher a chance to pitch at the big league level, but this is a fun experiment.

ESPN.com’s Tisha Thompson first reported on Friday night that Fletcher bet on sports, but not baseball, with the same California bookmaker — Mathew Bowyer — that took wagers from Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. The 29-year-old infielder played for the Angels from 2018-2023 and could wind up facing league discipline. It’s legal for players to bet on sports other than baseball, but not with an illegal bookmaker.

Fletcher cleared waivers and will head back to the minors. One could speculate this means that Ozzie Albies may return to the lineup soon, which would be a boost for the Braves’ offense and fantasy managers that have him rostered.