From Little League to MLB: Jack Flaherty’s Childhood Teammate Not Surprised by Dodgers Star’s Greatness

Jack Flaherty shared a text he received from a friend on Tuesday. It read, “What a difference a year makes.”

No kidding.

It also wasn’t the first experience Flaherty has had with friends since coming home to Los Angeles.

In a moment that was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Major League Baseball and fans, Flaherty was seen in a long embrace with his mother, Eileen Flaherty, after winning Game 1 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets.

The two were scanning the crowd that stayed behind and found who they were looking for.

Grant Shapiro was Flaherty’s teammate for Sherman Oaks Little League and the Sherman Oaks Riptide. The two played daily together from when Shapiro was 11 until high school. He was also his catcher and it was the first time he had seen his childhood friend pitch in the majors in person.

Flaherty delivered seven shutout innings for Shapiro to witness, leading the Dodgers to a dominant 9–0 victory. It stands as one of the best NLCS performances by a Dodger pitcher.

“That was the first MLB game I got to see him live,” Shapiro said in a text. “It was amazing to see. I was geeking out.”

Flaherty was the only player from their team to reach the major leagues but Shapiro knew something was special about him from early on.

“He was our best and youngest player on our club team,” Shapiro told Dodgers Nation. “Being one and a half years younger than the rest of the team and being our leadoff hitter, shortstop, and closing pitcher because he threw the hardest.”

The irony in the friendship is that Shapiro is a New York Yankees fan. In the viral video, Flaherty is heard telling his friend to take off his hat and come back with a new one.

However, the Yankees fandom in Shapiro took Flaherty to Yankee Stadium as a kid and he was asked about that trip Thursday.

“Me and all my brothers. Cooperstown trip, and we made it a little bit longer, went to Yankee Stadium, and watched a game. I remember the atmosphere being amazing and just the way that the fans were and how into the game they were,” Flaherty said.

“I think it was — it must have been August or something, but they were into it. It’s just one of those scenes that you kind of take in, and you enjoy the history of it. Even at 12, you just take it in and enjoy it. But also at that time, I’m 12; I think my brother is probably 8 at that point. We’re there enjoying baseball, and we’re just there to watch the game, eat some food, and hang out.

“It will be a different setting going there this time.”

Shapiro is hoping to attend at least one World Series game. Even though he is a lifelong Yankees fan, he wants to support his old teammate.

“I hope he throws a perfect game against the Yankees. I will be so happy if he gets a ring.”

Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports