The Addition Of Pitcher Jack Flaherty Adds More Soul To Baltimore’s Band Of Bros
Acquiring Jack Flaherty at the end of the trade deadline on Aug. 1 from the St. Louis Cardinals allowed the Baltimore Orioles to keep an MLBbro on their active roster.
Baltimore began the season with just three Black players on its roster, Mychal Givens, Dillon Tate, and Cedric Mullins while adding veteran outfielder Aaron Hicks during the season.
Baltimore Bros In A MASH Unit
But with all four of these bros on the injured list, the Orioles made a move that’ll help them in their postseason push but also their diversity. The right-hander has tossed 109 2/3 innings, earning a 4.43 era and fanning 106 batters.
“It’s exciting to be on a good team. It’s exciting to be on a team that’s in it. There was a lot of promise in St. Louis; things didn’t work out. Sometimes that’s the way it goes. You can’t do much about it, and now it’s about moving forward.
“These guys have been playing unbelievably all year.”
Black Jack Flaherty Is A Key Addition Trade Deadline Acquisition
With excitement brewing with the added arm, Flaherty could also cash out if he performs under the bright lights in Baltimore as he will be a free agent after the 2023 season.
“We think this team has what it takes to go deep,” general manager Mike Elias said. “This bolsters us. It gives us a lot of security and a boost to the rotation down the stretch.”
The Orioles were looking for pitching at the trade deadline, and adding another starter in Flaherty allows the team to add another arm to the bullpen if needed. Due to injuries, he has not pitched a full season in the Majors since 2019, when he placed fourth in Cy Young voting.
Having already surpassed 100 innings, the Orioles are now in a position to carefully assess the condition of his arm during the second half of the season. Considering this, they may opt to transition him into a bullpen role, ensuring that he can contribute effectively during the playoffs without overexerting himself. Additionally, this strategic move will enable him to be available for spot starts if the team requires it.
Although over his career in the Majors and Minors, Flaherty has only come out of the bullpen just seven times.
“I just like the talent, I like the experience, I like what comes out of his hands,” Elias said. “Players are going to have some seasons that are better than others, and maybe we can get him hot here in the next couple months.”
True Baltimore fans know the legacy that has been left by players like Eddie Murray, Frank Robinson, Ken Singleton, and most recently, Adam Jones.
Baltimore Orioles Have No MLBbros In Top 20 Minor League Prospects
In the current landscape of Baltimore, the Orioles’ roster predominantly features white players, and there are no Black athletes among their top-20 prospects. Despite this, the few distinct Black faces on the roster are determined not to be overshadowed or forgotten in the dynamic pipeline that the Orioles have carefully crafted.
The O’s will potentially have a majority Black outfield once Mullins and Hicks return from the 10-day IL. Additionally, the recent inclusion of Flaherty strengthens their pitching rotation, making him the team’s sole Black starting pitcher, complemented by two Black relievers in Givens and Tate.
In Baltimore, a diversity resurgence is taking place within a team that’s currently basking in the spotlight. Their eyes are firmly set on clinching their first playoff appearance since 2016 and securing their first postseason victory since 2014, the last time the Orioles won the American League East.
“We are obviously out of our rebuild,” Elias said. “We are very competitive. But a step we have yet to take is to make the playoffs. Our goal is to win the division.”
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