Brian Flynn (baseball)


Brian Anthony Flynn is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. Flynn previously played in Major League Baseball 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 and was named The Oklahomans all-state player of the year. After graduating, Flynn enrolled at Wichita State University, where he played college baseball for the Wichita State Shockers. In 2011, as a redshirt sophomore, he went 6-4 with a 4.63 ERA in 67.2 innings.

Professional career

Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers selected Flynn in the seventh round of the 2011 MLB draft. He signed with the Tigers, beginning his professional career.

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.
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. On September 3, 2013,he was promoted MLB, and made his MLB debut the next day. After the season, Flynn was named a PCL All-Star. Flynn made two appearances for the Marlins in 2014, spending the majority of the season with New Orleans.

Kansas City Royals

On November 28, 2014, the Marlins traded Flynn and Reid Redman to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Aaron Crow.
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.
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. In 2016 with KC he was 1-2 with a 2.60 ERA in 55.1 innings.
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. 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 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.

Texas Rangers

On December 16, 2019, Flynn signed with the Texas Rangers on a minor league contract. On July 14, 2020, Flynn elected free agency.