Photo Credit: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

Detroit Tigers Pitcher Impresses in First Taste of Grapefruit League Action

Originally posted on FanNation Fastball | By Sam Connon | Last updated 2/26/24

Jack Flaherty drew the start for the Detroit Tigers against the Houston Astros on Monday, and he made the most of his limited time on the mound.

Flaherty – who the Tigers signed to a one-year, $14 million contract in December – didn't allow a hit, walk or run in the first inning. It took him ten pitches to retire the side, striking out two batters while only missing the zone one time.

That was all Flaherty could muster, however, as his outing came to a close then and there. It was Flaherty's first in-game appearance of Grapefruit League play down at Spring Training, 12 days after he reported to camp.

Flaherty's four fastballs traveled 94.6 miles per hour on average Monday, per Diamond Digest's Scott Bentley, compared to his 93.1 mile-per-hour average fastball velocity in 2023. His changeup, slider, sinker and knuckle curve were all faster than they were on average last season, according to DataBase Hit.

Detroit leads Houston 1-0 through three innings.

Jack Flaherty’s first inning as a Tiger: 3 up, 3 down, 10 pitches.

@MLBNetwork @BallySportsDET
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) February 26, 2024

Flaherty spent the first six-plus seasons of his career with the St. Louis Cardinals, emerging as one of the top young pitchers in the National League. He placed fifth in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2018, then fourth in NL Cy Young voting and 13th in NL MVP voting in 2019.

Between those two seasons, Flaherty went 19-17 with a 3.01 ERA, 1.028 WHIP, 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings and a 9.0 WAR.

Following the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, Flaherty suffered through a few injury-plagued seasons in 2021 and 2022. His production started to fall off in that stretch as well, and he was ultimately traded to the Baltimore Orioles at last year's deadline.

Flaherty's fortunes didn't change down the stretch with the the Orioles, who eventually moved him to the bullpen. He finished the 2023 season 8-9 with a 4.99 ERA, 1.580 WHIP and 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings.

The 28-year-old's most recent shaky campaign is the reason he pounced on a prove-it deal with the Tigers, who were willing to take a flier on him to reshape their rotation. Flaherty and Kenta Maeda were brought in to replace Eduardo Rodriguez, who signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks in December.

For his career, Flaherty is 42-34 with a 3.75 ERA, 1.210 WHIP, 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings and a 9.7 WAR.

This article first appeared on FanNation Fastball and was syndicated with permission.

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