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Date: Dec 30, 2011

2012 AWL Player Spotlight: John Flanagan

Left handed pitcher John Flanagan, a 6-5 200 pound 23 year old, is looking to find some consistency and get back into the ranks of affiliated baseball after being drafted in the 13^th round of the 2008 MLB Amateur Player Draft. The Kansas City Royals drafted him that season after the White Sox drafted him in the 30^th round the previous year (Flanagan did not sign in 2007). Flanagan posted great numbers in his debut as a professional with the Burlington Bees in the Appalachian League. Through 45.2 innings, the hard throwing lefty recorded 3 wins, a 2.56 ERA, 43 strikeouts, and gave up just 36 hits, and only 14 walks over the course of 12 appearances, including 7 starts. His WHIP of 1.095 proved that he was ready for the next level. However, for non-baseball reasons, Flanagan did not pitch in 2009, eventually signing with the Gateway Grizzlies of the independent Frontier League in 2010.

After not pitching professionally in 2011, Flanagan is ready to refocus himself and prove that he still has plenty of talent and the ability to get hitters out at a very high level. When he was drafted out of Southwestern Illinois Junior College, scouts saw a very tall, lean, and projectable lefty who was capable of pitching deep into games with his 88-92 MPH fastball. At just 23 years old, there is still some projectability there and if Flanagan can find some consistency and positive results early on in the AWL season, he should be one of the first to receive a contract on draft day, if he isn’t snatched up by a Major League organization beforehand.

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