St. Louis Cardinals: Jack Flaherty headed to the Future’s Game

St. Louis Cardinals’ prospect, Jack Flaherty, is headed to the All-Star Future’s Game next week.

The St. Louis Cardinals will send one lone representative to the All-Star Future’s game next week. Fortunately for the Cardinals, the lone representative, Jack Flaherty, is a really good one. Flaherty shared his selection on Twitter by flashing a picture of his All-Star game jersey. It is a deserving selection, as he has been the best pitching prospect in the organization thus far.

Flaherty started out the season in double-A Springfield, where he dazzled. In ten games in Springfield, Flaherty went 7-2 with a 1.42 ERA along with sixty strikeouts and ten walks in 63.1 innings pitched. His impressive numbers didn’t cease there, though. He also held opponents to a .206 BA, a .241 OBP, a .275 SLG, and a 516 OPS.

While his BAbip was around .271, Flaherty was able to minimize extra base hits to the tune of only two home runs, eight doubles, and a triple in forty-seven total hits given up.

The St. Louis Cardinals promoted Flaherty to triple-A Memphis after a fine run in Springfield in June. Since then, Flaherty’s number have inflated. However much of that is attributed to the higher level of play in triple-A. Truthfully, his numbers aren’t bad by any means. He is still young and working towards becoming one of the best pitching prospects the Cardinals have.

In six games in Memphis, Flaherty has a 1-1 record with a 4.11 ERA with thirty-five strikeouts along with eleven walks in 30.2 innings pitched. In those six games his BA, OBP, SLG, and OPS have all risen to .237, .302, .441, and .743 respectively. To me, it looks like Flaherty is just a victim of seeing better competition. After the break, I think he will improve upon those numbers significantly.

His rise in the St. Louis Cardinals’ organization has gained attention not only from the parent club, but from other teams as well. While I don’t think the Cardinals would consider moving Flaherty in a trade, he might be the biggest pitching trade chip the Cardinals have not injured. Of course, their top prospect is Alex Reyes. However, his injury puts any trade talks involving him into question.

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Flaherty is an intriguing piece, considering the other pitching talent the Cardinals have in the minor league system. If the Cardinals decide to move him in a trade, expect it for a big name. Would he be a part of a package for players like Josh Donaldson or Giancarlo Stanton? It’s definitely possible. However, there is one thing that may prevent that from happening.

If Flaherty progresses successfully through this year, he will most likely get an invitation to Spring Training next year to battle for a spot on the team. With Lance Lynn‘s impending FA, Flaherty might get the nod to become a fifth starter in the Cardinals rotation. We are a little far out from that, but keep it on your radar.

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I’d like to wish Mr. Flaherty in his upcoming All-Star game. I hope he can showcase his stuff, and not get injured. The St. Louis Cardinals definitely have a star in the making in Flaherty.