Tyler Flowers, Retired

Date of Birth: 1/24/1986
Birthplace: Roswell, Georgia
College: Chipola College

Tyler Flowers, retired catcher, was first drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 2005. He played in their minor league system from 2006 through 2008. In December, 2008, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox.

From 2009 through 2011, Flowers spent most of his time in the minor leagues, playing in just 10 games with the White Sox in 2009, 8 games in 2010, and 38 games in 2011. He ended his minor league career with a .275 batting average.

In 2013, Flowers was the starting catcher for the White Sox but after injuries and a poor start, he was demoted to backup catcher. He had shoulder surgery in September, 2013. He finished the 2013 season with a .195 batting average with 50 hits in 84 games. As a catcher, he made 640 putouts and 4 errors with a .994 fielding percentage in 84 games. In 2014, he had 98 hits, 16 doubles, 15 home runs, 50 RBIs, and a .241 batting average in 127 games.

Flowers signed a one-year, $2.675 million contract with the White Sox on January 16, 2015. He played in 112 games in 2015 and he finished the season with 79 hits, 39 RBIs, and a .239 batting average. As a catcher in 110 games, he made 63 assists, 877 putouts, and 5 errors. He caught players trying to steal 25.4% of the time and he had a .995 fielding percentage.

Flowers signed a two-year, $5.3 million contract with the Braves on December 16, 2015. He finished the 2016 season with 76 hits, 41 RBIs, and a .270 batting average in 83 games. Defensively, as the Braves' catcher in 81 games, he made 29 assists, 607 putouts, and 3 errors. He had a .995 fielding percentage and he caught players trying to steal only 4.8% of the time.

In 2017, Flowers batted a career high .281 in 99 games with the Braves. He finished the season with 89 hits, 16 doubles, 12 home runs, 49 RBIs, and 82 strikeouts to 31 walks. Defensively, as the Braves' catcher in 85 games, he made 46 assists, 643 putouts, and 5 errors. He caught players trying to steal 22.5% of the time.

Flowers spent time on the DL in 2018 with a strained left oblique. He batted .227 with 57 hits in 82 games with the Braves. Defensively, as a catcher in 76 games, he made 37 assists, 596 putouts, and 1 error. He caught players trying to steal 22.8% of the time and he had a .998 fielding percentage. In the postseason, he had 1 hit in 7 at-bats in 3 games. He struck out three times and walked once.

Flowers finished the 2019 season with 62 hits and a .229 batting average in 85 games. As the Braves' catcher in 83 games, he made 37 assists, 676 putouts, and 3 errors, and he caught players trying to steal 19.1% of the time. In the postseason, he had one hit in 1 at-bat in 2 games.

Flowers played in 22 games in 2020. He finished the season with 15 hits and a .217 batting average. In the postseason, he batted .333 with 3 hits in 11 at-bats in 7 games.

Flowers became a free agent on October 28, 2020. He signed a minor league contract with the Braves on May 4, 2020. Ten days later, on May 14th, he retired.

Career batting statistics for Flowers through 2020 include:

• 802 games played
• 582 hits
• 111 doubles
• 86 home runs
• 301 RBIs
• 852 strikeouts to 227 walks
• .237 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Flowers as a catcher through 2020 include:

• 758 games played
• 374 assists
• 5,700 putouts
• 34 errors
• 22% caught stealing percentage
• .994 fielding percentage

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Tyler Flowers
ESPN - Tyler Flowers