masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgA slightly heavier Ryan Flaherty showed up at FanFest today. He has added a few pounds during a winter where he spent a lot of time here in Baltimore working out with two former Orioles.

He knows he has a chance to be the club’s everyday second baseman come opening day, but he is not calling himself the leading candidate for that job.

“You know, I am not looking at it that way,” Flaherty said. “I’m ready to get going. They got a lot of guys they brought in and there will be a lot of…A slightly heavier Ryan Flaherty showed up at FanFest today. He has added a few pounds during a winter where he spent a lot of time here in Baltimore working out with two former Orioles.

He knows he has a chance to be the club’s everyday second baseman come opening day, but he is not calling himself the leading candidate for that job.

“You know, I am not looking at it that way,” Flaherty said. “I’m ready to get going. They got a lot of guys they brought in and there will be a lot of competition. Excited to get going and we’ll see how everyone shakes out for March 31.

“Every player wants to get everyday at-bats. But you have to earn that and it’s something you have to prove you can do. We’ll see what happens in camp.”

Flaherty talked about his added bulk and winter workouts at Camden Yards.

“I gained about nine pounds or so,” he said. “Stayed here in Baltimore and worked with the strength coaches and got to hit with B.J. Surfhoff and Mike Bordick quite a bit. Just picked their brains a lot. They had long careers and you try to learn a lot from those guys.”

He was asked about Brian Roberts leaving the Orioles for New York.

“He helped me out a ton,” Flaherty said. “Before last year, I hadn’t played second base that much. A lot of what I learned, I have to give credit to him for sure. It’s tough, you develop a relationship with someone and they’re gone. But it’s part of the game, the show goes on.”

And it will go on this spring with Flaherty having his best chance yet to show he can be an everyday major leaguer.

“Sure, it’s a great opportunity, but you have to take advantage of it,” he said. “Like I said, we’ll see what they say about everything, but I’m excited and it’s definitely a great opportunity.”