Huck Flener

Gregory Alan Flener

• Bats Both, Throws Left
• Height 5' 11", Weight 185 lb.
• School California State University, Fullerton
• High School Armijo High School
• Debut September 14, 1993
• Final Game July 28, 1997
• Born February 25, 1969 in Austin, TX USA

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Biographical Information

Gregory "Huck" Flener pitched three seasons in the majors with the Toronto Blue Jays. His ERA during his first two seasons (1993 and 1996) was better than the league average, although he struggled in 1997, his last year. The 1993 Blue Jays went on to win the 1993 World Series, although Flener did not appear in the Series.

Huck also had 11 seasons in the minors, mostly in the Toronto organization, although he spent some time in the organizations of the Cleveland Indians, the Seattle Mariners and the San Diego Padres. His career minor league ERA was 3.46.

He is the most recent of the four major leaguers known by the name "Huck". He is the only major leaguer through 2019 with the last name Flener. His time at Cal State Fullerton overlapped with that of Phil Nevin, Brent Mayne, Frank Charles and Dave Staton. Since 2004 he has worked in the insurance industry.

Huck was struck in the eye by a ball hit by Donaldo Mendez while pitching in Venezuela in January, 2001. His eye exploded upon impact and had to be removed. He recalled:

I don't know what happened, but I didn't really pick it up. I don't know if the background deceived me or what. I remember seeing it for a split-second, and I don't know whether I blinked or what, but the next thing I knew it caught me square in the right eye. It knocked me right off my feet. I knew that I was hurt badly. There was blood everywhere. I tried to stand up, got to one knee, and I remember Luis Sojo running over and saying, "No, no, kid. Stay down. Don't get up." I knew my eye was closed, but I figured I had a broken nose and cheekbone. I really wasn't that scared.