Brian Flynn

Having allowed 24 earned runs over 25 MLB innings in his career, seeing Flynn's 2016 performance culminate in a 2.60 ERA and 1.10 WHIP may come off as too good to be true. For one, Flynn wasn’t prone to retiring batters by way of the strikeout, as he posted a mediocre K-rate of 19.9 percent. Control wasn’t his forte either, for more than 10 percent of the batters he faced wound up reaching base via a walk. Rather, he relied on his fastball, slider, curveball, and changeup pitch arsenal to keep hitters on their toes. As a result, Flynn rode a 2.22 GB/FB to the forefront of the Royals’ bullpen and ended the season as their fourth-most-used reliever. However, Kansas City seldom used Flynn in high-leverage situations, which led to him accruing just two holds on the year. For 2017, he’ll figure to start the year as a primary relief option for the club, but could quickly fall back in the hierarchy if he reverts to his old, run laden ways.