Smokies Spotlight - Ryan Flaherty
After a minor break, we our next Smokies Spotlight Feature releases today. For previous versions of Smokies Spotlight, please see the links on the right side of the page.
With the postseason in full swing, there are still two Tennessee Smokies alums looking to make it to the World Series. The more known of the two is perennial Gold Glove Award winner and St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina. The second is an infielder who has delivered some clutch hits this October in Baltimore Orioles infielder Ryan Flaherty.
Originally selected by the Chicago Cubs in the first supplemental round of the 2008 MLB Draft out of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, the Maine native began his professional playing career in the Northwest League with the Boise Hawks, batting .297 with eight homers and 26 RBI in 56 contests in that short season circuit.
Following a full season at Low-A Peoria, Flaherty was deemed good enough to skip the High-A level and began the 2010 campaign with the Smokies. His first Double-A hit, would come on April 11, 2010 at Mississippi, while his first home run of his Double-A career came during his third Smokies home game on April 18 against the Chattanooga Lookouts as part of a two-hit, three RBI performance. Flaherty struggled, however, in his 23 contests with Tennessee and was transferred to Daytona to finish the year in the Florida State League. Despite not participating in that circuit's first month of the season, the left-handed hitter ranked tied for second in doubles (34) and ninth in batting average, ultimately completing the year with a .286 mark with nine longballs and 63 RBI.
After struggling in his initial action at the Double-A level in 2010, Flaherty again began the 2011 season with the Smokies and showed marked improvement. He recorded two hits and two RBI in his first contest of the season. Just over a week later, he smashed two roundtrippers and drove in five RBI at home against the Montgomery Biscuits. Flaherty tore up Southern League pitching in April, batting .350 with seven homers and 21 RBI, which set the tone for a big year with Tennessee. In addition to being named the league's Hitter of the Week for the period between May 16-23, Flaherty would go on to be named a Southern League Midseason All-Star at Joe W. Davis Stadium in Huntsville, Alabama.
He would return to Kodak after the league's Midsummer Classic for 19 games before being promoted to Triple-A Iowa on July 12, where he would finish the season. Over 83 contests with the Smokies in 2011, Flaherty had hit for a .305 average, adding 14 homers and 66 RBI. After batting at a .237 clip in 49 games with the I-Cubs, Chicago left Flaherty off their 40-Man Roster, and he was subsequently selected by the Orioles in the Rule 5 Draft during the 2011 Winter Meetings.
As a result, he began the 2012 season on the Orioles' Opening Day roster, with that year becoming a campaign of milestones for Flaherty. On April 14 in Toronto, he scored his first run. Less than two weeks later, Flaherty collected the first and second hits of his Major League career, against the Blue Jays again, though this time at Camden Yards. The first longball then came on May 10 versus the Texas Rangers, which was one of three consecutive big flies crushed against Rangers right-hander Colby Lewis.
Later on in September 28, he clubbed a grand slam off Boston Red Sox hurler Aaron Cook, ending the game with a career-high five RBI. After the club made the postseason and reached the ALDS, Flaherty also left the yard in the third game of the series, combining with fellow infielder Manny Machado to become the first pair of rookies to ever homer for the same team in the same game. Baltimore, however, would fall to the Yankees in the maximum five games.
He would then go on to play in 85 more contests during the 2013 season, which included another milestone. On June 23, he recorded his first multi-homer game. Ironically enough, it was against the Toronto Blue Jays, the same team he had recorded his first run and hit of his MLB career the year prior.
2014 saw the most playing time of Flaherty's Major League career to date, playing in 102 contests for the Orioles as the team went on to win the American League East Division crown. He hit .221 with seven homers and 32 RBI, and has delivered some clutch hits for Baltimore in this postseason. He is referred to as "Flash" by many of the Orioles faithful, and has displayed a strong glove while displaying great versatility by playing all four infield positions.
Over 106 combined games over 2010 and 2011 for the Smokies, Flaherty accumulated a .286 average with 66 runs scored, 34 doubles, three triples, ten homers and 65 RBI, in addition to a .347 on-base percentage. He also combined for just seven errors over those 106 contests, once again proving his strong defensive acumen.
While he may not be the star like his fellow Smokies alum in this postseason in Yadier Molina, Flaherty has proven his worth with his defensive skills with clutch hitting. And there is always something to say about someone who is able to play all four infield positions (though Flaherty did also play 48 games in the outfield in 2011).
Should he or Molina reach the World Series, it would mark the 17th time over the last 22 Fall Classics a Smokies player has been represented. An impressive stretch that not many Minor League clubs can boast.