Kentucky second baseman Riley Mahan and closer Logan Salow were named second- and third-team All-Americans, respectively, by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, it was announced Wednesday.
Mahan earned his third All-America honor this season after he 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. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound junior’s 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, a Cincinnati native who also 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.
Salow, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound senior, was lights out this season, recording 12 saves with a 1.95 earned run average in 31 appearances. He gave up just 37 hits and struck out 73 in 55.1 innings as opposing batters hit just .188 against him. The 12 saves tied Trevor Gott (2013) for the most in a season at UK and the 31 appearances are the second most.
The Ashland, Ky. native settled into the Cats’ closer role this season but his versatility throughout his career made him one of the most valuable pitchers to come through the program in a long time. Salow worked to get in the best shape of his life last summer, saw his velocity tick up a few notches and has turned into one of the nation’s premier closers.
Salow also was the SEC Pitcher of the Week for March 27 after saving all three of Kentucky’s victories the previous week. As part of that stretch, Salow did not allow a baserunner in 10.0 innings pitched. He retired 30 consecutive hitters – 19 coming via strikeout – and earned five saves in that time over that period of dominance.
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Matt May
