JUPITER, Fla. • A year ago as pitchers and catchers reported to the Cardinals’ Roger Dean Stadium complex, pitching coach Mike Maddux was as new to the team’s major-league conversations as rookie Jack Flaherty.
Maddux, in his first year with the team, had heard all about the ascending prospects, the power potential, the depth, and this young righthander, Flaherty, who the Cardinals felt, internally, could pitch atop their rotation in a few years. Maddux wanted to see for himself.
“Everybody said they liked him,” Maddux said. “I saw a guy throw a couple of times.