Riley Mahan Stats & Scouting Report

AB	1657
AVG	.247
OBP	.31
SLG	.402
HR	49

Full name Riley Mahan
Born 12/31/1995 in Milford, OH
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Kentucky
Drafted in the 3rd round (89th overall) by the Miami Marlins in 2017 (signed for $525,000).

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A shortstop in 2016 who was over his head at the position, Mahan moved to second base for Kentucky this year and still looked over his head. He's a below-average defender at second thanks to poor hands, but he does a good job of going back on fly balls and he's an above-average runner, leading some scouts to see him as a potential solid-average corner outfielder. Mahan also has a plus arm that would play more consistently in the grass. There's less concern about how well he will hit. Mahan has shown the ability to line balls to the gaps but also clear the fence with consistency thanks to bat speed and natural loft to his swing. He projects as at least an average hitter and he has average raw power. He finished the regular second second in the Southeastern Conference in total bases and third in on-base-plus-slugging. Mahan does get overaggressive at times and racks up some strikeouts; he had a 17.6% strikeout rate entering the postseason.

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Organization Prospect Rankings

Track Record: A 40th-round pick of the Giants in 2014, Mahan went to Kentucky, where he was one of the most productive college hitters in the 2017 draft. The Marlins drafted Mahan in the third round.

Scouting Report: Praised for his hitting ability coming into the 2017 draft, Mahan has struggled with strikeouts in pro ball. Spending the entirety of his age-22 season at high Class A Jupiter, Mahan struck out in 27.5 percent of his plate appearances and posted a .638 OPS with only three home runs. A naturally aggressive hitter, Mahan got stuck chasing too many pitches this past season, and his walk rate was just barely north of five percent. Mahan has above-average raw power, but it's yet to translate into pro ball. Defensively, Mahan is an average second baseman, and some scouts think he would be better suited in left field. He's an above-average runner with an above-average arm, so he should be able to hold his own in the outfield, although the Marlins are so far pleased with his play at second base, where his bat profiles best.

The Future: Despite a lackluster season in high Class A, the 23-year-old Mahan should move to Double-A Jacksonville. He'll need to make more contact and rekindle some of the offensive production he was known for in college in order to regain his status as a potential everyday regular for the Marlins.
Instead of signing with the Giants as a 40th-round pick out of high school in 2014, Mahan ended up at Kentucky, where he established himself as one of the most productive college bats in the 2017 draft. While his defensive ability has caused some concern, Mahan has continuously been lauded for his bat. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Mahan posseses a smooth lefthanded swing and shows good barrel control with the ability to use the entire field against both righthanders and lefthanders. Though his swing most often results in line drives, there is some untapped power in his frame that should continue to develop as he matures physically. Defensively, Mahan should be able to reach a ceiling of an at least average second baseman, though it will likely never be the strongest aspect of his game. Overall, Mahan is a good athlete and above-average runner, leading many to believe he could move to a corner outfield spot. He also possesses an above-average arm. Mahan will continue proving himself at second base for now, as his bat profiles better on the dirt. Mahan played in just six games--all with low Class A Greensboro--after signing with the Marlins in 2017 and could start 2018 there. He has a chance to move up the Marlins system relatively quickly, due mostly to his pedigree as an advanced college bat.

Draft Prospects

A shortstop in 2016 who was over his head at the position, Mahan moved to second base for Kentucky this year and still looked over his head. He's a below-average defender at second thanks to poor hands, but he does a good job of going back on fly balls and he's an above-average runner, leading some scouts to see him as a potential solid-average corner outfielder. Mahan also has a plus arm that would play more consistently in the grass. There's less concern about how well he will hit. Mahan has shown the ability to line balls to the gaps but also clear the fence with consistency thanks to bat speed and natural loft to his swing. He projects as at least an average hitter and he has average raw power. He finished the regular second second in the Southeastern Conference in total bases and third in on-base-plus-slugging. Mahan does get overaggressive at times and racks up some strikeouts; he had a 17.6% strikeout rate entering the postseason.