Jack Flaherty

Flaherty had an interesting 2024 season after languishing in prior seasons attempting to recover what he last was in 2019 with the Cardinals. He may never get back to that level of success, but he came closer in 2024 than in any other season since his peak, even with the midseason change of employment. Flaherty came into the season working on his pitch shape and repertoire, and it showed in his success. The actual outcomes of his four-seamers in 2024 (.245 BA) matched the expected outcomes the pitch failed to realize in 2023 (.247 xBA), but the slider is where the success story truly lies. Flaherty had both a cutter and slider in 2023, and neither was an effective pitch by actual nor expected results. Flaherty scrapped the cutter and worked on the slider, and the work paid off. The league average against the pitch dropped from .339 to .222, while the pitch's whiff rate jumped from 26.5 to 36.3 percent. The postseason version of Flaherty reminds us of his inconsistent track record, and the last time he worked this much in a season, the subsequent season was disastrous. The 2024 season was a much-needed career recovery for Flaherty, but the path forward is anything but certain given his track record. Read Past Outlooks