Ryan Flaherty Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Ryan Edward Flaherty
Born 07/27/1986 in Portland, ME
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Vanderbilt
Debut 04/07/2012
Drafted in the C-A round (41st overall) by the Chicago Cubs in 2008 (signed for $906,000).

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As a coach's son, Flaherty earns compliments as a "ballplayer" from opposing coaches and scouts. His father Edward Flaherty is in the ABCA Hall of Fame and has won two national championships as head coach of Division III Southern Maine's baseball team. Flaherty himself has a track record of winning, as following his senior year in high school, his summer team won the American Legion national championship. Flaherty was also named Mr. Baseball in Maine the same season. At Vanderbilt, Flaherty took over the starting shortstop role full-time his sophomore season. However, scouts feel Flaherty's range is not good enough for him to stay at the premium position into the pros, and he will most likely have to make a move to second base, which he played for Team USA last summer. At the plate, Flaherty swings from the left side and will hit for average. He holds the Commodores record for longest hitting streak at 35 games. Flaherty hit six total home runs in his first two years on campus and has close to doubled that total this season. He has showed signs of filling out his lanky 6-foot-3 frame and more strength is projected, but he will most likely never be considered a power hitter. His athleticism and makeup are a plus and should carry him into the major leagues.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Flaherty batted cleanup behind Pedro Alvarez at Vanderbilt before going 39 picks after him in the 2008 draft, signing with the Cubs for $1.5 million. His father Ed has won two NCAA Division III College World Series as the head coach at Southern Maine. The Orioles plucked Flaherty in the major league Rule 5 draft in December. Flaherty's bat speed, strength and the loft in his swing all work in his favor. He does a nice job of working counts to get pitches he can hammer, and he has the ability to drive the ball to all fields. He will strike out, though not excessively for someone with his pop. Flaherty has wasted much of his pro career manning the middle infield, where he lacks the requisite range and athleticism, and is better suited for third base. He hasn't gotten enough time to work out his kinks there, with 25 errors in 102 pro games. He has enough arm for the position and could become an adequate defender. He also played left and right field last season, and he did OK despite well below-average speed. Flaherty will compete with Robert Andino and Chris Davis for the third-base job in Baltimore. Even if he loses out, he still should get at-bats as a corner reserve.
Flaherty batted cleanup behind Pedro Alvarez at Vanderbilt before signing for $1.5 million as the 41st overall pick in the 2008 draft. He's the son of Ed Flaherty, who has won two NCAA Division III College World Series as the head coach at Southern Maine. The Cubs wanted to separate him and D.J. LeMahieu, but they spent the last four months of the season together at Daytona after Flaherty was demoted. The two have a lot in common as big-bodied former Southeastern Conference stars who are best suited for third base. LeMahieu is more athletic and a better pure hitter, while Flaherty bats lefthanded and has more power. With a quick bat and some loft in his swing, he has pop to all fields and 20-homer potential, Flaherty has good instincts and a solid arm, but he's still seeking a full-time position. The Cubs have played him at second base and shortstop, but he lacks middleinfield actions, quickness and range. He has been erratic at third base, committing 17 errors in 74 games there. He played some left field in the Arizona Fall League after the season, and his ticket to the big leagues might be as an offensive-minded utilityman. Flaherty will try to solve Double-A pitching in 2011, when he and LeMahieu will shuttle around Tennessee's infield.
After playing second fiddle to Pedro Alvarez in the Vanderbilt lineup, Flaherty went 41st overall in the 2008 draft and signed for $1.5 million. He has ranked third in his league in homers in each of his two pro seasons. His father Ed has won two NCAA Division III College World Series as the head coach at Southern Maine. Flaherty made significant improvements in 2009. Formerly a dead-pull hitter, he started driving balls the other way, giving him solid power to all fields. He has a polished lefthanded swing and hit .309 in the second half. His arm strength went from subpar to average, and he did a better job of turning double plays. His instincts and makeup enhance his tools. Flaherty is seeking a defensive home after splitting 2009 between second base, shortstop and third base. He's a below-average runner who lacks the range for shortstop. He may not be quick enough for second base, and some scouts question whether he has enough power and arm to profile at third base. Chicago has yet to decide what level and what position Flaherty will play at in 2010. If he doesn't settle into one position, he could have value as a lefthanded-hitting version of Mark DeRosa.
Flaherty batted cleanup behind No. 2 overall pick Pedro Alvarez (Pirates) at Vanderbilt, where he set a school record with a 38-game hitting streak. Drafted 39 picks after Alvarez in June, Flaherty signed for $1.5 million and earned Northwest League all-star honors in his debut. His father Ed has won two national championships as the head coach at NCAA Division III Southern Maine. Flaherty's sweet lefthanded swing and his hand-eye coordination make him a consistent hitter, and he should develop at least average power as he fills out his lanky frame. He's a solid athlete, featuring average speed and a strong arm. His makeup and instincts are top notch. Scouts don't believe Flaherty has the range to play shortstop in the majors, though the Cubs caution not to bet against his desire. Usually a dependable fielder, he made 16 errors in 52 pro games. He profiles well at third base, though Aramis Ramirez and Josh Vitters would loom as two huge obstacles should Flaherty move there. He can get pull-conscious and expand his strike zone when he's thinking of home runs, and he's better off just letting his power come naturally. Chicago has a glut of shortstop prospects at the lower levels of the system, but remains committed to playing Flaherty there for now. As the oldest and most advanced hitter of that group, he could jump to high Class A to help lessen the logjam.

Minor League Top Prospects

The cleanup hitter behind No. 2 overall pick Pedro Alvarez in Vanderbilt's lineup, Flaherty has more offensive potential than most middle infielders. His smooth lefty swing is conducive to hitting for average, and he has increased his power production as he has filled out his 6-foot-3 frame. He can get a little pull-conscious at times. Flaherty played shortstop in college and the Cubs gave him a chance to stay there, but he committed 16 errors in 52 pro games there. He's a good athlete with a strong arm, but his range already was in question. He'll probably wind up at second base, his position with Team USA last summer.

Scouting Reports

Background: Flaherty batted cleanup behind Pedro Alvarez at Vanderbilt before going 39 picks after him in the 2008 draft, signing with the Cubs for $1.5 million as a supplemental first-rounder. His father Ed has won two NCAA Division III College World Series as the head coach at Southern Maine. The Orioles plucked Flaherty in the major league Rule 5 draft in December. Scouting Report: Flaherty's bat speed, strength and the loft in his swing all work in his favor. He does a nice job of working counts to get pitches he can hammer, and he has the ability to drive the ball to all fields. He will strike out, though not excessively for someone with his pop. Flaherty has wasted much of his pro career manning the middle infield, where he lacks the requisite range and athleticism, and is better suited for third base. He hasn't gotten enough time to work out his kinks there, with 25 errors in 102 pro games. He has enough arm for the position and could become an adequate defender. He also played left and right field last season, and he did OK despite well below-average speed. The Future: Flaherty will compete with Robert Andino and Chris Davis for the third-base job in Baltimore. Even if he loses out, he still should get at-bats as a corner reserve.