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Braves benefiting from Flaherty's batting

(NEWS CENTER Maine) -- .362. That's Deering High School alum Ryan Flaherty's current batting average, and it's good for second best in major league baseball just behind Boston's Mookie Betts.

We're only a few weeks into the season and Flaherty himself will say that's a small sample size, but at 31 years old, he looks better than ever.

Flaherty is now a utility man for the Atlanta Braves. In 58 plate appearances he has 21 hits, 1 home run and 8 RBI.

Flaherty played for the Baltimore Orioles for 6 years before signing with the the Philadelphia Phillies this February. He opted out of his contract when was not put on the Phillies' major league roster, and was picked up by the Atlanta Braves just three days before the regular season started.

The career .223 hitter is currently in possession of the best batting average on his team, and the best in the national league. To what does he attribute his success?

"I've been able to play a lot. I think that's probably one of the biggest reasons," says Flaherty. "And then, I don't know. I don't really have an answer."

Flaherty has been playing third base for the Braves, but he knows that could change at any time. He says as a utility man in the national league, you always have to be prepared.

"If you're in the line up, you try to help the team, and if you're not, you may be in there later, so I think it's just about staying ready and trying to help the team win."

Flaherty and the Braves will be in Boston for a three game series beginning May 25.

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