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| GW's Kevin Mahala (Photo: Sara Gleysteen, courtesy of GW Hatchet) |
From our friends at GW Athletics...
Shortstop Is Second Player to Be Drafted by Pirates in Program History
George Washington rising senior shortstop Kevin Mahala was chosen by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 18th round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Saturday afternoon.
Mahala, a 6-foot-3, right-handed shortstop, is coming off his best season at GW after batting .286 with four home runs and a team-best 47 RBIs in 55 games this season. His 20 doubles led the team, ranked second in the Atlantic 10 and stand as the third most in a single season in program history.
Mahala also scored 33 runs and slugged .461 behind four home runs and three triples, along with his 20 doubles.
The Basking Ridge, New Jersey, native joins former teammate Shane Kemp in being the only Colonials to be selected by the Pirates. Kemp went in the 26th round of last year's draft and is currently in the Pirates minor league system.
The GW baseball program has had a total of 36 players drafted dating back to 1971.
Mahala is the highest-drafted player since Eric Cantrell went to the Kansas City Royals in the seventh round of the 2010 draft.
A pair of GW baseball alumni have previously been selected in the 18th round. Tony Brown was chosen by the Montreal Expos in 2002 and Athletic Hall of Famer Greg Conden went to the San Diego Padres in 2003.
