FOXSportsSouth.com invites you to meet the Braves as we continue a month-long look at our team, player-by-player. We'll revisit 2011 and project what 2012 might look like.
Eric O’Flaherty
Position: P
Height: 6-2; Weight: 220
Bat/Throw: L/L
Hometown: Walla Walla, Wash.
Experience: Sixth season
2011 in review: O’Flaherty was spectacular last year, leading major league relievers with a 0.98 ERA to become the first reliever in MLB history to finish with an ERA below 1.00 with at least 70 appearances. O’Flaherty signed a one-year deal worth $2.49 million in January.
Career highlight: He started his career with a 7-0 record with Seattle in 2007 after helping the Mariners defeat the Yankees for his first career victory on May 4. He didn’t lose a game until Aug. 30 of that season and finished 7-1.
Outlook: O’Flaherty forms part of the Braves’ trio of O’Ventbrel – including Jonny Venters and closer Craig Kimbrel – which will be counted on to shut down teams in the late innings once again. O’Flaherty knows that his ERA likely won’t be 0.98 again this year, but 2011’s workload didn’t seem to bother him. He didn’t give up a run in 14 innings in September.
You should know: O’Flaherty has finished 35 games in his career and pitched in 208, but is still looking for his first major-league save.
