Brian Flynn (baseball)

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Brian Flynn

| image = IMG 0085 Brian Flynn.jpg

| image_size = 250

| caption = Flynn pitching for the Lakeland Flying Tigers in {{Baseball year|2012}}

| position = Pitcher

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|4|19}}

| birth_place = Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.

| bats = Left

| throws = Left

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = September 4

| debutyear = 2013

| debutteam = Miami Marlins

| finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = July 26

| finalyear = 2019

| finalteam = Kansas City Royals

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 6–12

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 4.41

| stat4label = Strikeouts

| stat4value = 134

| teams =

Miami Marlins ({{mlby|2013}}–{{mlby|2014}})
Kansas City Royals ({{mlby|2016}}–{{mlby|2019}})

}}

Brian Anthony Flynn (born April 19, 1990) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Flynn previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Miami Marlins and Kansas City Royals.

Amateur career

Flynn attended Owasso High School in Owasso, Oklahoma, where he played as a pitcher for the school's baseball team. In 2008, his senior year, he went 9–1 with a 0.79 ERA{{cite web|last=Favalora |first=Christian |url=https://www.tulsaworld.com/communities/flynn-signs-year-k-with-royals/article_cee0bae3-dc75-57fb-9282-d0ee95b410af.html |title=Flynn signs 1 year, $515K with Royals | Communities |publisher=tulsaworld.com |date=2016-02-29 |accessdate=2019-11-09}} and was named The Oklahoman{{'}}s all-state player of the year.{{cite web|author= |url=http://newsok.com/article/3251400/ |title=Owasso's Flynn an intimidating forceLeft-handed pitching ace stands 6–8 |publisher=News OK |date=June 1, 2008 |accessdate=September 3, 2013}} After graduating, Flynn enrolled at Wichita State University, where he played college baseball for the Wichita State Shockers.{{cite web |last=Suellentrop |first=Paul |url=http://www.kansas.com/2011/04/23/1820215/shockers-brian-flynn-fires-two.html |title=Shockers' Brian Flynn fires two-hitter for WSU's second straight over Redbirds | Wichita Eagle |publisher=Kansas.com |date= |accessdate=September 3, 2013 |archive-date=March 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317212438/http://www.kansas.com/2011/04/23/1820215/shockers-brian-flynn-fires-two.html |url-status=dead }} In 2011, as a redshirt sophomore, he went 6–4 with a 4.63 ERA in 67.2 innings.{{cite web|author=Donny HennThe Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN |url=https://www.postbulletin.com/sports/localsports/honkers-roster-thinned-by-mlb-draft/article_0d4ca6d7-d5f6-5bf4-b354-7099892a623e.html |title=Honkers roster thinned by MLB draft | Local Sports |publisher=postbulletin.com |date=2011-06-10 |accessdate=2019-11-09}}

Professional career

=Detroit Tigers=

The Detroit Tigers selected Flynn in the seventh round of the 2011 MLB draft.{{cite web |url=http://www.kake.com/sports/headlines/Seven_Baseball_Shockers_Selected_In_MLB_Draft_123426014.html?ref=014 |title=Seven Baseball Shockers Selected In MLB Draft |publisher=Kake.com |date=June 7, 2011 |accessdate=September 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317213506/http://www.kake.com/sports/headlines/Seven_Baseball_Shockers_Selected_In_MLB_Draft_123426014.html?ref=014 |archivedate=March 17, 2014 |df=mdy-all }} He signed with the Tigers, beginning his professional career.{{cite web|url=http://www.ktul.com/story/14926474/former-owasso-star-signs-with-tigers |title=Former Owasso Star Signs With Tigers – KTUL.com – Tulsa, Oklahoma – News, Weather & Sports |publisher=KTUL.com |date= |accessdate=September 3, 2013}}

=Miami Marlins=

On July 23, 2012, Flynn was traded to the Miami Marlins with Jacob Turner and Rob Brantly in exchange for Omar Infante and Aníbal Sánchez.Frisaro, Joe and Tom Green. [http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120723&content_id=35427080&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb Marlins deal Anibal, Infante for Tigers prospects] MLB.com. Retrieved July 23, 2012

In 2013, he played between the Jacksonville Suns of the Class AA Southern League and the New Orleans Zephyrs of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League (PCL). On September 3, he was promoted to the majors,{{cite web|date=September 2, 2013|first=Juan C. |last=Rodriguez |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-09-02/sports/fl-marlins-notes-0903-20130902_1_brad-hand-anibal-sanchez-omar-infante-mike-dunn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317211537/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-09-02/sports/fl-marlins-notes-0903-20130902_1_brad-hand-anibal-sanchez-omar-infante-mike-dunn |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 17, 2014 |title=Miami Marlins to promote four more players from Triple-A New Orleans – Sun Sentinel |publisher=Articles.sun-sentinel.com |accessdate=September 3, 2013}} and made his MLB debut the following day. In his debut, he lasted four-plus innings, giving up six hits and three runs.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=330904116 |title=Cubs hit 4 homers to power past Marlins |website=ESPN |date=September 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118000344/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=330904116 |archive-date=November 18, 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN201309040.shtml |title=Miami Marlins at Chicago Cubs Box Score, September 4, 2013 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826082457/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN201309040.shtml |archive-date=August 26, 2021 |url-status=live}} Flynn made three additional starts in 2013 for the Marlins, compiling an 0–2 record along with an 8.50 ERA.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/flynnbr01.shtml |title=Brian Flynn Career Stats |work=Baseball-Reference.com}} After the season, Flynn was named a PCL All-Star for his efforts in the minors.

=Kansas City Royals=

On November 28, 2014, the Marlins traded Flynn and Reid Redman to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Aaron Crow.{{cite web|url=http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article4184460.html|title=Royals trade reliever Aaron Crow to Marlins for two minor-league pitchers|work=kansascity.com|accessdate=November 28, 2014}}

In 2015, Flynn competed for a spot on the Royals 25-man roster out of spring training. Flynn was assigned to the Omaha Storm Chasers of the PCL and on April 9 suffered a torn lat muscle in his first and only 2015 appearance.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/royals-brian-flynn-healthy-after-tough-2015-c165019862|title=KC lefty Flynn happy to be healthy again|last=Flanagan|first=Jeffrey|date=February 20, 2016|work=MLB.com|access-date=May 9, 2016}}

In 2016, he began the season with Omaha. He went 2–1 in six appearances while posting a 3.94 ERA and striking out 14 over 16.0 innings. On May 6, the Royals recalled Flynn. On May 6, Flynn made his first MLB appearance since August 7, 2014. Flynn surrendered two runs on three hits, struck out two and walked two over 4.0 innings in a relief appearance against the Cleveland Indians.{{cite web|url=http://www.minorleagueball.com/2016/5/9/11634812/mlb-rookie-report-brian-flynn-lhp-kansas-city-royals|title=MLB Rookie Report: Brian Flynn, LHP, Kansas City Royals|last=Sickels|first=Jeffrey|date=May 9, 2016|work=SBNation.com|accessdate=May 9, 2016}} In 2016 with KC he was 1–2 with a 2.60 ERA in 55.1 innings.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=flynn-002bri |title=Brian Flynn Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics & History |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date= |accessdate=2019-11-09}}

In 2017, Prior to the start of spring training, Flynn suffered a broken rib and three fractured vertebrae when he fell through the roof of his barn, and was ruled out for at least eight weeks.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/02/al-injury-notes-flynn-tillman-richards-perkins-smith-cishek-doubront.html|title=AL Injury Notes: Flynn, Tillman, Richards, Perkins, Smith, Cishek, Doubront|last=Todd|first=Jeff|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=February 14, 2017|accessdate=February 14, 2017}} He made just one appearance in the Majors that season.

In 2018, Flynn pitched in 48 games, posting an ERA of 4.04 with a record of 3–5 with one save in {{frac|75|2|3}} innings.

In 2019 with Kansas City, Flynn appeared in 11 games, posting a 2–2 record and a 5.22 ERA. On July 25, 2019, he was designated for assignment. He elected free agency on October 1. On October 10, he was selected for the United States national baseball team in the 2019 WBSC Premier 12 This did not lead to placement for the Olympic team.{{cite web | url=https://www.usabaseball.com/news/usa-baseball-names-premier12-roster/c-311115688?tid=216632610 | title=USA Baseball Names Premier12 Roster | work=USA Baseball | date=October 10, 2019 | accessdate=October 13, 2019}}

=Texas Rangers=

On December 16, 2019, Flynn signed with the Texas Rangers on a minor league contract.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/joely-rodriguez-signs-two-year-deal-with-rangers|title=Texas inks Joely Rodriguez to 2-year contract|website=MLB.com|date=December 16, 2019|accessdate=December 16, 2019}} On July 14, 2020, Flynn opted out of his minor league contract and became a free agent.

International career

Flynn was selected to represent Germany at the 2023 World Baseball Classic qualification.{{cite web|title=Deutschland gibt Kader für World Baseball Classic Qualifier in Regensburg bekannt / Erstes Spiel am Samstag um 19 Uhr|url=https://www.baseball-softball.de/deutschland-gibt-kader-fuer-world-baseball-classic-qualifier-in-regensburg-bekannt-erstes-spiel-am-samstag-um-19-uhr|website=baseball-softball.de|publisher=DBV|date=September 13, 2022|access-date=October 13, 2022|language=de}}