Riley Mahan became the second Kentucky player selected in the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft when the Miami Marlins picked him in the third round on Tuesday. The Cincinnati native was selected with the 89th overall pick.
The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder produced a career year in 2017, hitting .336 with 58 runs, 41 extra base hits (including 15 home runs), and a slugging percentage of .618. His 67 RBI are the sixth most in a single-season in UK history, while his 88 hits rank ninth on the single-season chart, 23 doubles tied for the sixth most in a season and 162 total bases are the seventh most in program history.
Mahan, who was a Dick Howser Trophy semifinalist, earned second-team All-America honors from Collegiate Baseball and third-team honors from Baseball America. He also was named second-team All-SEC and joined Mississippi State’s Brent Rooker as the only three-time SEC Players of the Week this season.
For his career, the sweet-swinging lefty is hitting .311 with 172 hits, which ranks 22nd on UK’s all-time career hit list. He has 41 doubles, seven triples, 21 home runs, 107 RBI and 10 sacrifice flies in 161 career games, including 138 starts.
Mahan, who has primarily played second base and shortstop but has logged time at third as well, showed marked improvement in the field in 2017, significantly cutting his error total despite moving to a new position. He’s also shown terrific baserunning skills, stealing 18 bases in his career.
Mahan, who played high school ball at Moeller High School in Cincinnati, originally was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 40th round of the 2014 MLB Draft.
RILEY MAHAN BIO
• Baseball America Third-Team All-America (2017)
• Collegiate Baseball Second-Team All-America (2017)
• Second-Team All-SEC (2017)
• Dick Howser Trophy Semifinalist (2017)
• SEC Player of the Week (5/15/17)
• SEC co-Player of the Week (4/24/17)
• SEC Player of the Week (3/6/17)
• SEC No. 31 2017 draft prospect (D1 Baseball)
• SEC Academic Honor Roll (2016)
• 2015 Perfect Game League All-Star (SS)
• 2015 SEC Freshman of the Week (3/9/15)
• 40th round draft pick in 2014 (Giants)
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Matt May