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Baltimore Orioles: Ryan Flaherty Joins The Party In San Diego

By Nick Stevens

BALTIMORE, MD - JULY 24: Ryan Flaherty #3 of the Baltimore Orioles makes a throw to first base for the second out of the second inning against the Cleveland Indians at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 24, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Matt Hazlett/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - JULY 24: Ryan Flaherty #3 of the Baltimore Orioles makes a throw to first base for the second out of the second inning against the Cleveland Indians at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 24, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Matt Hazlett/Getty Images) /
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Former Baltimore Orioles utility man Ryan Flaherty is joining a group of old teammates and coaches in San Diego.

For the last two seasons, once the Baltimore Orioles have finished losing another game, I typically stay up and watch the San Diego Padres. After writing about them for a few months and falling in love with their minor league system, I developed a real soft spot for the franchise. I’m also apparently a glutton for losing baseball teams.

Since then, Manny Machado has joined forces with Fernando Tatis Jr.to form the most dynamic left side of an infield in baseball (you can argue that, but there’s no point) and Bobby Dickerson and Wayne Kirby have joined first-year man Jayce Tingler’s staff. There was a report of Machado offering up Buck Showalter as a managerial candidate, but that notion fell short of happening.

The transformation of Petco Park into Camden Yards West isn’t quite finished yet. As first reported by ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Padres have hired former Baltimore Orioles utility man Ryan Flaherty to “oversee quality control.”

What does “oversee quality control” mean? To be honest, I have no idea, but I support the hire.

Now 33, Flaherty spent the last eight seasons with the Orioles, Atlanta Braves, and Cleveland Indians. Originally drafted in the first-round of the 2008 draft by the Chicago Cubs, the former Vanderbilt standout played in 547 games, producing a career-slash line of .215/.284/.345 with 37 home runs, 52 doubles, and 142 runs driven in.

Flaherty spent his final season as a player in the Indians organization, taking full advantage of the totally not-juiced baseball used in the majors and Triple-A this year. He hit .263 with 19 home runs and 23 doubles in 113 games with the AAA Columbus Clippers, putting together one of his best performances as a professional.

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He made 14 appearances with the Indians, going 3-21 (.143) with two doubles and an RBI. At the conclusion of the season, he elected free agency.

Never a standout player, Flaherty was a key piece to the Orioles roster during their run of success earlier in the decade. Baltimore attempted to bring him back for the 2018 season to continue serving in a utility role, but Flaherty ultimately elected to join the Philadelphia Phillies for spring training, ending his run with the Orioles.

I guess this means that late nights of Padres baseball won’t be ending anytime soon, not that I sleep anyway with a newborn around. Congratulations to Ryan Flaherty and best of luck in San Diego.

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