David Fletcher strikes out Jackson Holliday in first minor league start

Former Los Angeles Angels infielder David Fletcher is currently reinventing himself as a starting pitcher, and that second act began Wednesday when he made his first minor league start on the mound for the Atlanta Braves’ Triple-A affiliate, the Gwinnett Stripers. .

Fletcher, who throws a rather impressive knuckleball, impressed on the mound Wednesday against the Norfolk Tides, the minor league affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles that boasts a collection of top talent.

Among the hitters he faced was baseball’s top prospect, Jackson Holliday, who is back in the minors after a rough introduction to the major leagues earlier this year. Fletcher was able to fool the young shortstop, hitting him with a nasty brass knuckle that left Holliday shaking his head.

Holliday has been one of the best hitters at the Triple-A level this season, but Fletcher’s speed lapses caused him to be bamboozled at the plate in the third inning Wednesday.

It was just one of six strikeouts Fletcher accumulated in his debut as a minor league pitcher, in which his knuckleball figured prominently.

Fletcher, who signed with the Braves during the offseason, appeared in five games for Atlanta in the majors this season, but will now look to return to the bigs by fielding rather than manning the infield.