Former Liberty reliever Mason Fluharty was recently called up to the Toronto Blue Jays and made his Major League Debut on Tuesday with the club.
He entered the game against the Washington Nationals in the 7th inning with a runner on second base and two outs. He did surrender a run-tying double to CJ Adams before getting James Wood to ground out to end the threat. Fluharty started the 8th inning, recording a groundout and his first career strike out before being removed. All told, Fluharty pitched one inning, allowing one hit while recording his first career strikeout. It was part of the Blue Jays 5-3 win over the Washington Nationals.
Fluharty quickly worked his way up the minor leagues. He needed just 22 games in high-A Vancouver before getting the call-up to double-A New Hampshire in 2023, compiling a cumulative ERA of 3.28. The Blue Jays started him off in triple-A Bufalo to start the 2024 season, where he ended up pitching for the duration of the season. He produced a 3.63 ERA across 56 relief appearances last season while striking out 10.2 per nine innings.
Fluharty was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the fifth round with the No. 158 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft. As a junior with the Flames in 2022, he led the team with 26 appearances. He posted a 6-3 record with a 2.84 ERA while striking out 83 batters and walking just ten in 50.2 innings pitched. He was named to the ASUN’s second team All-Conference team that season.
Fluharty is one of three former Liberty players active on Big League rosters currently. He is teammates in Toronto with Will Wagner while Fraser Ellard is with the Chicago White Sox. So far this season, Wagner is batting .389 with two runs scored in 18 at bats. Meanwhile, Ellard has made two appearances so far, not allowing a run while pitching 2.1 innings and striking out two.
