Eric O'Flaherty (born February 5, 1985 in Walla Walla, Washington) is a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Seattle Mariners of the American League. O'Flaherty was drafted out of high school by the Seattle Mariners in the sixth round of the 2003 draft. He was the 176th pick overall. A relief pitcher warms up in the bullpen as the game goes on A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness and/or fatigue. ... August 16 is the 228th day of the year (229th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 2006 throughout the world. ... Major league affiliations American League (1977-present) West Division (1977-present) Current uniform Ballpark Safeco Field (1999-present) Major league titles World Series titles (0) None AL Pennants (0) None West Division titles (3) [1] 2001 â€¢ 1997 â€¢ 1995 Wild card berths (1) 2000 Best Finish: Beat New York Yankees in... February 5 is the 36th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Walla Walla is the both the county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, USA, and the countys largest city. ... A relief pitcher warms up in the bullpen as the game goes on A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness and/or fatigue. ... Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of play in professional baseball in the world. ... Major league affiliations American League (1977-present) West Division (1977-present) Current uniform Ballpark Safeco Field (1999-present) Major league titles World Series titles (0) None AL Pennants (0) None West Division titles (3) [1] 2001 â€¢ 1997 â€¢ 1995 Wild card berths (1) 2000 Best Finish: Beat New York Yankees in... American League The American League (or formally the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs) is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States of America and Canada. ... Major league affiliations American League (1977-present) West Division (1977-present) Current uniform Ballpark Safeco Field (1999-present) Major league titles World Series titles (0) None AL Pennants (0) None West Division titles (3) [1] 2001 â€¢ 1997 â€¢ 1995 Wild card berths (1) 2000 Best Finish: Beat New York Yankees in...

As a senior at Walla Walla High School he had a 5-2 record, an ERA of 1.99, and 83 strikeouts. He earned Pitcher of the Year honors in the Big Nine Conference.

O'Flaherty quickly made his way through the Mariners' minor league affiliate teams. He started 2006 with the Class A Inland Empire 66ers where he had a 3.45 ERA and struck out 33 batters in 16 relief appearances. On May 27th he moved to the AA San Antonio Missions where he had a record of 2-2 with an ERA of 1.14 and seven saves in 25 games. He moved again that same season to the AAA Tacoma Rainiers on August 9th; he would stay with them until his August 16th apperance with the Mariners. His combined minor league record in 2006 was 3-3 with a 2.01 ERA, eight saves, and 73 strikeouts in 43 games. The Inland Empire 66ers are a minor league baseball team in San Bernardino, California, USA. They are a high-A class team in the California League. ... The San Antonio Missions is a minor league baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. ... The Tacoma Rainiers are a minor league baseball team which plays in the Pacific Coast League, and are the AAA affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. ...

O'Flaherty's debut in the major leagues was on August 16, 2006 against the Oakland Athletics. He pitched 0.2 innings, faced 4 batters, allowed one hit, one walk and pitched his first strikeout in the major leauges. Major league affiliations American League (1901-present) West Division (1969-present) Current uniform Ballpark McAfee Coliseum (1968-present) Major league titles World Series titles (9) 1989 â€¢ 1974 â€¢ 1973 â€¢ 1972 1930 â€¢ 1929 â€¢ 1913 â€¢ 1911 1910 AL Pennants (15) 1990 â€¢ 1989 â€¢ 1988 â€¢ 1974 1973 â€¢ 1972 â€¢ 1931 â€¢ 1930 1929 â€¢ 1914 â€¢ 1913 â€¢ 1911 1910...

On the same day of O'Flaherty's debut the Seattle Times reported that his "big-league visit was too short to qualify as a cup of coffee". The night before he had been flown in from AAA Minor League team the Tacoma Rainiers in order to replace a seemingly injured Rafael Soriano. When O'Flaherty arrived, Soriano convinced coaches he was healthy enough to remain on the Mariners' roster, so O'Flaherty was sidelined out of uniform for the rest of the night. The next day, however, infielder/outfielder Greg Dobbs was returned to the AAA league, allowing O'Flaherty to pitch his first major league game. The Tacoma Rainiers are a minor league baseball team which plays in the Pacific Coast League, and are the AAA affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. ... Rafael Soriano (born December 19, 1979 in San Jose, Dominican Republic ) is a Major League Baseball Pitcher for the Seattle Mariners. ... Greg Dobbs is a Major League Baseball player with the Seattle Mariners (2006). ...

External Links

• O'Flaherty's Minor Leauge Stats
• Seattle Times: O'Flaherty here and gone
• Mariners Aquire Eric O'Flaherty Offical Press Release