Scott Fletcher (baseball player)
Encyclopedia
Scott Brian Fletcher is a former professional baseball player who played shortstop and second base in Major League Baseball
from 1981–1995. Fletcher is related to Michael Barrett, who also played for the Chicago Cubs
. Fletcher graduated from Wadsworth High School
in Wadsworth, Ohio
in 1976.
in the 1979 amateur draft and made his major league debut with the team in 1981. After two years in a limited role, the Cubs traded Fletcher to their intercity rival, the Chicago White Sox
in 1983. With the emergence of Ozzie Guillen
in 1985, Fletcher was traded to the Texas Rangers
at the end of the 1985 season. In he hit .300 (15th best in the American League
) for the Rangers and was named the American League Player of the Month for July. In 1988, Fletcher became the first professional athlete in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to earn more than $1 million a year. After a slow start to the 1989 season, which saw him bat only .239 through 83 games, Fletcher was traded back to the Chicago White Sox
at the trade deadline. Fletcher would split the remaining seasons of his career with the White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers
, Boston Red Sox
, and Detroit Tigers
. He retired in 1995.
When reflecting on Fletcher's playing career, Bill James
noted that Fletcher "didn't do anything exceptionally well" and that he mainly "filled a slot", though he ranked him the 85th best shortstop of all time.
in 1997. He later became an assistant coach at Emory University
from 1999 to 2004. Fletcher became the Colorado Rockies' infield coordinator in 2009. Being hired along new hitting coach Greg Walker
on October 21, 2011, Fletcher is currently the assistant hitting coach for the Atlanta Braves
. Fletcher will assist Walker with the hitting coach duties and will act as an on-site advance scout.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
from 1981–1995. Fletcher is related to Michael Barrett, who also played for the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. Fletcher graduated from Wadsworth High School
Wadsworth High School
Wadsworth High School is a public high school in Wadsworth, Ohio, USA It is the only high school in the Wadsworth City Schools District.- Details :...
in Wadsworth, Ohio
Wadsworth, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,437 people, 7,276 households, and 5,144 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,940.5 people per square mile . There were 7,613 housing units at an average density of 801.3/sq mi...
in 1976.
Playing career
Fletcher was signed by the Chicago CubsChicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
in the 1979 amateur draft and made his major league debut with the team in 1981. After two years in a limited role, the Cubs traded Fletcher to their intercity rival, the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in 1983. With the emergence of Ozzie Guillen
Ozzie Guillén
Oswaldo José "Ozzie" Guillén Barrios is a Venezuelan-American former Major League Baseball player and current manager of the Miami Marlins. He managed the Chicago White Sox from 2004 to 2011 before asking for his release at the end of the 2011 season....
in 1985, Fletcher was traded to the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
at the end of the 1985 season. In he hit .300 (15th best in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
) for the Rangers and was named the American League Player of the Month for July. In 1988, Fletcher became the first professional athlete in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to earn more than $1 million a year. After a slow start to the 1989 season, which saw him bat only .239 through 83 games, Fletcher was traded back to the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
at the trade deadline. Fletcher would split the remaining seasons of his career with the White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, and Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. He retired in 1995.
When reflecting on Fletcher's playing career, Bill James
Bill James
George William “Bill” James is a baseball writer, historian, and statistician whose work has been widely influential. Since 1977, James has written more than two dozen books devoted to baseball history and statistics...
noted that Fletcher "didn't do anything exceptionally well" and that he mainly "filled a slot", though he ranked him the 85th best shortstop of all time.
Coaching career
After retiring in 1995, Fletcher became the manager for the minor league Charleston RiverDogsCharleston RiverDogs
The Charleston RiverDogs are a Minor League Baseball team based in Charleston, South Carolina. They play in the class A South Atlantic League and are an affiliate of the New York Yankees. Their home stadium is at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park...
in 1997. He later became an assistant coach at Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
from 1999 to 2004. Fletcher became the Colorado Rockies' infield coordinator in 2009. Being hired along new hitting coach Greg Walker
Greg Walker
Gregory Lee Walker is a former power-hitting first baseman in Major League Baseball and the former hitting coach of the Chicago White Sox, the team for which he played all but the last 14 games of his career. As a player for 9 years, Walker hit 113 home runs and drove in 444 runs, while scoring...
on October 21, 2011, Fletcher is currently the assistant hitting coach for the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
. Fletcher will assist Walker with the hitting coach duties and will act as an on-site advance scout.