Can Angels’ David Fletcher continue to outperform metrics?

Los Angeles Angels infielder David Fletcher is a fan favorite that became a pleasant surprise for the team in 2019, but can he continue his pace?

In his second season with the Los Angeles Angels, David Fletcher did everything right. The ultimate grinder, the infielder filled in where needed, fought through at-bats, and ultimately became a bright spot in a down season.

That showed when Fletcher spent time at five different positions last year and accumulated a batting line of .290/.350/.384 with six home runs, 49 RBI, and 83 runs scored. All and all, he was worth 3.4 wins above replacement, according to FanGraphs.

Now as he enters the 2020 campaign, the sparkplug is again showing his acumen and desire, but this time for a new manager. He’s hit for the cycle already in summer camp, shown his baserunning skills by taking extra bags when opportunities arose, and in doing so, has already won over his new skipper.

Now, summer camp performances need to be taken with a grain of salt. Unlike regular-season action, or even normal spring training situations, summer camp is much more of a controlled environment. Players aren’t going all out to make impressions, as most are simply trying to get reps in a shortened training period. Still, what Fletcher does day-in and day-out, regardless of the atmosphere, is a reminder of the player he is and what he brings to this Angels team.

The question on everyone’s mind is a simple one. Can David Fletcher repeat or improve on his 2019 campaign or is regression likely?

We are going to try and take a look at both cases.