Eric O'Flaherty is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for several teams during his career. He was born on February 5, 1985, in Walla Walla, Washington, and attended Walla Walla High School. O'Flaherty was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the sixth round of the 2003 MLB draft and made his debut with the team in 2006.
O'Flaherty spent the majority of his career as a relief pitcher, known for his left-handed pitching and ability to get ground balls. He played for the Mariners from 2006 to 2008 before being traded to the Atlanta Braves in 2009. He had a successful stint with the Braves, becoming one of their most reliable relievers and helping the team reach the playoffs in 2010 and 2012.
In 2013, O'Flaherty signed with the Oakland Athletics as a free agent. He had a strong start to the season but suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow in May, requiring Tommy John surgery and causing him to miss the rest of the season.
After recovering from his injury, O'Flaherty signed with the Braves again in 2014 but struggled with his performance. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in August of that year but was released by the team after just two appearances. He then signed with the New York Mets for the remainder of the season.
O'Flaherty continued to bounce around teams in the following years, playing for the Oakland Athletics, the Atlanta Braves again, and the Seattle Mariners. He announced his retirement from baseball in 2018.
Throughout his career, O'Flaherty had a record of 23-11 with a 3.85 ERA and 20 saves. He was known for his ability to get left-handed batters out, holding them to a .214 batting average over his career.
Off the field, O'Flaherty was involved in charitable work, including supporting the fight against cystic fibrosis and helping to build a baseball field for children with disabilities. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing in his free time.
Overall, Eric O'Flaherty had a successful career as a left-handed relief pitcher, known for his ability to get ground balls and get left-handed batters out. While he struggled with injuries and inconsistency at times, he was a valuable asset to several teams throughout his career.
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