2010 Mandan HS grad Jay Flaa makes MLB debut

By Tom Mix
NDHSAA Media Specialist

MANDAN, N.D. – There is another North Dakota native playing in Major League Baseball.

Jay Flaa, a 2010 graduate of Mandan High School, made his MLB debut Tuesday, April 27th at Camden Yards pitching for the Baltimore Orioles. Flaa entered the game as a reliever in the top of the eighth inning against the New York Yankees.

Flaa finished the game giving up two walks, no hits, no runs and ended his 1 ⅓ inning outing by striking out Yankees All-Star outfielder Aaron Judge. The Yankees won the game 5-1.

Before his climb to the big leagues, Flaa helped the Mandan Braves win the 2010 NDHSAA Class A baseball state championship. He later pitched collegiately at the University of Mary and North Dakota State. 

Flaa was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the sixth round (193rd overall) of the 2015 MLB June Amatuer Draft. 

Flaa is the 19th player born in North Dakota to appear in a MLB game according to Baseball Almanac joining the likes of Darin Erstad, Travis Hafner, Rick Helling, Chris Coste and current big leaguers Matt Strahm (2010 West Fargo High grad) of the San Diego Padres and Andy Young (2012 West Fargo High grad) of the Arizona Diamondbacks.   

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