Right-Handed Pitcher Kolton Mahoney: 2018 Miami Marlins Review

Kolton Mahoney was twice drafted and once released. By all accounts, he’ll open his third season in the Miami Marlins system in 2019.

Throughout the 2018/2019 offseason, Marlin Maniac will devote one article each for every player who appeared in the Miami Marlins system for the 2018 season. Every. Single. Player. This is Part 177 of 286. For the first 100, click here.

Kolton Garrett Mahoney is a 6’1″, 195 lb. right-handed pitcher from Ogden, Utah. Ogden has been the city of origin for five former major leaguers, most notably Elmer Singleton and Kelly Downs. Born on May 20th, 1992, Mahoney was initially drafted in the 23rd round of the 2014 MLB Amateur Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, out of BYU.

In three seasons of Division I play, Mahoney was 13-16 with a 4.36 ERA and 181 whiffs in 195 1/3 innings. That includes a no-hitter on March 6th, 2014, BYU’s first in 25 years. After the Brewers drafted him following his sophomore season, he decided instead to continue his education. Follow Mahoney on Twitter @KoltonMahoney.

Although 2015 was only Mahoney’s third season of collegiate play, it was also his fifth year of college. Degree within reach, the New York Yankees chose him in the 16th round of that season’s draft. He signed with the team, and reported to the short-season-A Staten Island Yankees in the New York-Penn League.

Mahoney was selected with the 483rd overall choice. Only three-of-54 have made it to the majors after getting chosen at that spot. The group is comprised of David Hernandez (2005, Baltimore Orioles, 6.5 career WAR), Justin Miller (2008, Texas Rangers, 1.2 WAR), and Dan Monzon (1966, Houston Astros, 0.7 WAR).

In his first professional look in Staten Island, Mahoney struck out 50 and walked only 11 in 55 innings. He earned a 2.29 ERA and a 1.091 WHIP, going 3-2 in the process. Mahoney remained in the NYPL for the 2016 campaign, and earned an unpaid ticket to their mid-season all-star game.

Mahoney’s second Staten Island season would see him start in eight of his 12 appearances, with 47 K’s in 61 2/3 innings. Promoted to the Charleston RiverDogs in the single-A South Atlantic League to start 2017, Mahoney pitched to a 1.85 ERA and struck out 26 in 24 innings. Despite his improvement, the Yankees released him on May 29th.

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Five days after receiving his walking papers, the Miami Marlins signed Mahoney to a free agent contract. He joined the SAL’s Greensboro Grasshoppers, where he started 13 times and made five trips out of the pen. He struck out 74 in 79 1/3 innings, and held opponents to a 1.160 WHIP. That’s a lot of innings to have only given up 10 walks, although Mahoney also allowed as many homers.

Mahoney skipped the high-A level entirely, and started 2018 with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in the double-A Southern League. In 89 innings of work, he struck out 67 and finished with a 4.53 ERA and a 1.444 WHIP. On June 30th, he made his triple-A debut in the Pacific Coast League with the New Orleans Baby Cakes, but took a loss by allowing six earned runs in three innings of work.

Going by GameScore, Mahoney’s best of the season was on July 27th, when he allowed only an unearned run on five hits and zero walks, but took a 2-1 loss to the Montgomery Biscuits. While pitching for the Shrimp, Mahoney allowed 139 grounders and 139 fly balls, getting 924-of-1428 pitches in the strikezone, a 64.7 percent strike rate.

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