Ryan Flaherty’s quick transition to Braves has been impressive

DENVER (TNS) — When Ryan Flaherty signed with the Atlanta Braves on their final day of spring training in Florida, the former Baltimore Orioles utility man never envisioned he’d be starting the first eight games of the season, much less having 12 hits and the fifth-best on-base percentage in the major leagues in that span.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever played seven or eight in a row,” said Flaherty, who was thrust into the opening-day third-base job after Johan Camargo was slow to recover from a strained oblique. “It’s nice to go out there and help the team.”

Flaherty, 31, helped the Braves and their majors-leading offense — yes, that still seems hard to believe — to a 6-3 start. He was out of the lineup for Sunday’s 4-0 win at Colorado so that utility man Charlie Culberson could get a start at third base.

The Braves began its three-game series Monday at Washington with a majors-leading 62 runs and also led the majors in batting average (.285) and on-base percentage (.366). Their 90 hits were more than any other team that had played nine or fewer games before Monday, and 12 of those hits (including four doubles) came from Flaherty, who was batting .414 through Sunday.

Braves slugger Freddie Freeman was second in the majors with a .558 on-base percentage through Sunday, and Flaherty was sixth with a .514 mark. Yes, Flaherty, right there between Robinson Cano (.517) and Chris Owings (.483).

Flaherty had a .215 career average and .284 OBP in six seasons with Baltimore.

“I’ve known who he is for a long time, so I’m not really surprised,” Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson insisted. “He’s always been good at what he does, always been a true pro, always been put in bunch of different situations and positions and circumstances and he’s always done a good job thriving in that, and he’s a good teammate. So when you combine all that and what he brings to the team, obviously I’m not surprised at how he’s flourished in that role.”

When it was mentioned to Flaherty that he’s surprised a lot of people but probably not himself, Flaherty smiled and said, “No, I did (surprise myself). It’s exciting. From the top to the bottom (of the lineup), it’s really where we got the ball rolling early and kind of kept it going. You know, contributions from a lot of people, and it’s been fun to be part of for the first week and a half.”

Flaherty is the brother-in-law of Braves veteran right fielder Nick Markakis — he’s married to the sister of Markakis’ wife — and the two were teammates in Baltimore (2012-2014) before Markakis signed as a free agent with the Braves.

“Yeah, it was a very easy transition. Obviously Nick helped with that. But just, you know, it’s all I’ve seen. So it’s like, wow, these guys can hit. And it’s been fun to be part of, for sure.”

Flaherty didn’t sign with the Braves until March 25, after spending almost all of spring training with the Philadelphia Phillies and using an opt-out clause in his minor-league contract with Philadelphia when it became apparent he wasn’t going to make the 25-man roster. He signed a major league deal with the Braves and quickly became assimilated with his new teammates both on and off the field.

“Yeah, it was a very easy transition. Obviously Nick helped with that,” said Flaherty, who was also helped by the fact that he and the team have played so well to start the season, their offense in particularly among one of the biggest surprises in baseball. “But. you know, it’s all I’ve seen. So it’s like, wow, these guys can hit. And it’s been fun to be part of, for sure.”

Swanson said Flaherty’s smooth transition to the Braves has been “Phenomenal. Almost like the Big City (Matt Adams) situation last year, bringing a guy over that fits well personality-wise and positionally he just makes sense. He’s added a lot to us, so we’re very thankful for that.”

Flaherty, always known for his strong defense at a variety of infield and corner-outfield positions, has surpassed offensive expectations to such a degree that the Braves have extended Camargo’s minor league rehab assignment, which initially was expected to last only into the first road series against Colorado. Camargo won’t be activated before at least the final series of the three-city trip.

“Yeah, I mean, I’m not totally sure of the situation and everything,” Flaherty said, “but just to try to help the team. Whatever they want me to do, I’ll do.”