Chicago just fine for Tyler Flowers

Tyler Flowers wasn’t quite sure what he was getting into when the Braves traded him to the Chicago White Sox in December.

The catcher from Marietta, who went to Chicago as part of the deal that brought the Braves pitcher Javier Vazquez, has happily found that it’s not so bad.

“It was sad to leave Atlanta, but the opportunity was great with Chicago,” said Flowers, a graduate of Blessed Trinity Catholic High School in Roswell. “It turns out to be just as great of an organization as Atlanta as far as how they treat us.”

Flowers will be one of two catchers on the U.S. roster for the All-Star Futures game Sunday in St. Louis.

In 75 games with the Class AA Birmingham Barons, Flowers was hitting .301 with 12 home runs, 41 RBI and an OPS of .976 through Thursday. In the first half of the Southern League season, Flowers helped lead the Barons to the South division title with a 48-21 record.

Flowers said he has improved both at the plate and behind it.

He’s a long way from being the Braves’ 33rd-round draft pick in 2005 out of Chipola Junior College in Florida.

Flowers said he was “offensively, just making adjustments quickly, even making adjustments in-game, recognizing what they’re doing. Defensively, I feel like I’m doing well. I’m more consistent throwing and blocking and coming a long way handling a new staff.”

He is considered the heir apparent to White Sox star catcher A.J. Pierzynski, whose contract expires after the 2010 season. He will wait if necessary.

However, he said, “if you’re putting up good numbers, it’s only so long they can keep you down [in the minor leagues]. Looking at right now, I just keep trying to get better.”