Collin Mahoney Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Collin M. Mahoney
Born 12/26/1982 in Mt. Kisco, NY
Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 235 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Clemson
Drafted in the 4th round (103rd overall) by the Detroit Tigers in 2004 (signed for $375,000).

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A former catcher, Mahoney has embraced the move to the mound, even using the same adviser who represents the patron saint of catcher-to-pitcher conversions, Troy Percival. Mahoney showed raw power at the plate but hit just .239 in 184 college at-bats. The burly 6-foot-4, 240-pounder became a scouting sensation when he hit 100 mph several times this spring, making him the draft's hardest thrower and owner of an 80 fastball grade, at the top of the 20-80 scouting scale. Scouts also are impressed that Mahoney has an idea of the strike zone with his fastball and 86-87 mph slider. His lack of experience shows up most in fielding, holding runners and the nuances of setting up hitters.

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Mahoney spent two years as a backup catcher at Clemson until he and a teammate were fooling around with a radar gun toward the end of the 2003 season. Trying to see how hard he could throw, Mahoney hit 94, which began his conversion to the mound. Mahoney pitched just five innings between his four years of high school and his first two seasons of college, and his inexperience shows. Though he attracted droves of scouts by repeatedly hitting 100 mph as a junior, he went just 1-3, 6.63 in 19 innings. The Tigers couldn't resist his raw arm strength, taking him in the fourth round and signing him for $375,000. They were pleased with his first pro summer, as they took a recoil out of his delivery and lengthened his follow-through. Mahoney showed better control, and though his fastball dropped to 90- 94 mph, Detroit expects his mid- to upper-90s velocity will return as he gets used to his mechanics. He reminds scouts of Troy Percival, a catcher-turned-closer who signed with the Tigers this offseason. To follow Percival's path, Mahoney will have to continue to improve his command, learn how to pitch and come up with something to back up his fastball. He uses a slider, but it's little more than a change-of-speed pitch at this point. Mahoney had a strong instructional league and will pitch in Class A in 2005.