Ryan Edward Flaherty is an American professional baseball second baseman for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball.
Education
Flaherty graduated from Deering High School in 2005. Ranked the 141st-best professional prospect by Baseball America, he chose to attend Vanderbilt University, where he played college baseball for the Commodores in the Southeastern Conference (Securities and Exchange Commission) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association"s Division I.
Career
Flaherty has also filled in at third base, first base, and shortstop for the Orioles. In 2004, he led Nova Seafood to the American Legion World Series Championship, as well as winning the Telegram League batting title. He was a 2005 American Baseball Coaches Association Preseason All-American, also winning Maine"s Mr.
Baseball award.
Flaherty lettered in baseball, basketball, captained the football team and was a finalist for the Fitzpatrick Trophy, which is given to Maine"s best football player. As a freshman, Flaherty was named an honorable mention Freshman All-American. In sixty-two games, Flaherty had a.339 batting average with 49 Reserve Bank of India, 19 doubles, two homers and an on-base percentage of.421, leading the team with 22 multi-hit and 15 multi-Reserve Bank of India games.
As a sophomore, Flaherty had a.381 batting average with 57 Reserve Bank of India, 23 doubles, four homers and an on-base percentage of.438 in 67 games.
He was named Second-team All-American selection by Rivals.com and the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). He was also selected to the ABCA All-South Region Team as well as Second-Team All-Securities and Exchange Commission.
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs selected Flaherty in the first round (41st overall) of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft.
In four seasons in both A and Associate of Arts, Flaherty played 322 games with a.279 batting average, on-base percentage of.347, slugging percentage of.455, 182 Reserve Bank of India, 38 homers and 79 doubles. He had his two best professional seasons in 2009 and 2010.
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles selected Flaherty from the Cubs in the Rule 5 Draft on December 8, 2011.
He made the Orioles" Opening Day roster. He scored his first run in the Major Leagues on April 14 against the Blue Jays in Toronto. He hit his first MLB home run as part of three consecutive home runs off Colby Lewis of the Texas Rangers to start the first inning of the first game of a May 10, 2012 doubleheader at Camden Yards.
Teammates J. J. Hardy and Nick Markakis followed with home runs.
On September 28, 2012, he hit his first career grand slam off Boston Red Sox pitcher Aaron Cook. On October 10, 2012, Flaherty hit a home run in Game 3 of the 2012 American League Division Series.
Flaherty had his first multi-home run game on June 23, 2013 against the Toronto Blue Jays. On January 26, 2015 Ryan Flaherty agreed with the Orioles on a one-year deal for $1,075,000.
On April 26th, 2015, Flaherty was put on the 15 day disabled list with a groin strain.
Rey Navarro was called up to take his place. He is currently off the disabled list and on the active roster.On July 4th 2015 Flaherty was optioned to tripleA to make room for the returning Jonathan Schoop. He has since returned to the Orioles.