Indiana University Athletics
Hoosier Minor League Report: Kevin Mahar
8/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Aug. 29, 2005
Throughout the history of Indiana baseball, a large contingent of Hoosiers have gone on to play at the professional level. There are currently 10 former IU standouts playing professional ball and in the upcoming weeks IUHOOSIERS.com will take a look at how each player is doing with their respective ballclubs.
After catching up with Washington Nationals' farmhand Kevin Orie, Kevin Mahar is up next. Mahar starred at IU in 2001 and from 2003-04, producing a .323 batting average, 17 home runs, 83 RBI, 82 RBI and 19 stolen bases. During the 2004 campaign, Mahar was named second team All-Big Ten, leading the Big Ten with 14 homers and a .652 slugging percentage. He also drove in 52 runs (3rd in the conference) and hit .359 (8th in the league).
Mahar signed with the Texas Rangers as an undrafted free agent on June 1, 2004 and has had a breakout season this year with the Bakersfield Blaze, the High-A affiliate of the Rangers. On Aug. 26, Mahar, who missed time earlier in the season with a broken thumb, was named to the California League Post-Season All-Star team. The squad is comprised of the best players in the California League during the season as voted on by the league's general managers, broadcasters and media members.
Serving as Bakersfield's leadoff hitter and playing center field for the first time in his career, Mahar has played in 103 games this season. The Midland, Mich., native is hitting .318 (132-for-415) with 17 homers, 61 RBI, 88 runs, 24 doubles, four triples, 45 walks and 16 steals.
After breaking his thumb on April 17, Mahar returned to the lineup three weeks later and started hitting his stride in June. In the months of June and July, Mahar posted a .361 average as well as pounding 12 long balls, 37 RBI, 49 runs, 11 doubles, three triples and seven stolen bases in 49 games.
On the year, Mahar sits near the top of the league in five categories, ranking in the top 10 in average, runs, steals, slugging percentage and on-base percentage.
Mahar's performance this campaign has raised his career batting mark to .312 to go along with 28 home runs, 101 RBI, 134 runs, 38 doubles and 28 swipes.
