Ryan Flaherty

From BR Bullpen

Ryan Edward Flaherty (Flash)

Bats Left, Throws Right
Height 6' 3", Weight 210 lb.

School Vanderbilt University
High School Deering High School

Born July 27, 1986

[edit] Biographical Information

Ryan Flaherty was a supplemental first-round pick in the 2008 amateur draft. His father Ed Flaherty has won two NCAA Division III titles as a college coach.

Flaherty helped Deering High to Maine state titles in 2002 and 2003. In 2004, he helped Deering go unbeaten and his team won the American Legion Baseball World Series. He was named the Maine High School Player of the Year in 2005 as per Gatorade. He was rated the #141 pro prospect in the USA by Baseball America.

Flaherty went on to college at Vanderbilt. As a freshman in 2006, he hit .339/.421/.458 as a 1B-SS. He led Vanderbilt in average, beating out Freshman of the Year Pedro Alvarez. In 2007, he set the Vanderbilt record with a 35-game hitting streak. He finished with a .381/.438/.531 batting line with 59 runs and 57 RBI in 67 games. He was at his best in the postseason, going 11 for 29 in the Southeastern Conference Tournament, 13 for 24 in the NCAA Nashville Regional and 5 for 5 in the NCAA tournament. He was .005 behind team batting champ Pedro Alvarez. He was 4th in the SEC in average and trailed Alvarez by one hit for the conference lead, 105-104. He helped Vanderbilt to a #6 rating nationally and was a second-team All-SEC selection. The American Baseball Coaches Association named him as a second-team All-American.

Flaherty joined Team USA for the summer. He hit .270 as the regular second baseman and his 8 steals led the team. In the 2007 Pan American Games, he was the worst position player for the US at the plate, going 2 for 16 with a double and a walk for the Silver Medal winners. In the 2007 World Port Tournament, he batted .308/.308/.385 to finish third on the US in average, trailing Jordan Danks and Jordy Mercer.

Flaherty was taken 41st overall in the 2008 amateur draft, chosen by the Chicago Cubs. The selection was compensation for the loss of Jason Kendall to free agency. He debuted for the Boise Hawks on June 21 against the Eugene Emeralds and went 0 for 4 with a strikeout.