University of Connecticut Athletics
Baseball's Mahoney Signs With Cubs
7/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
STORRS, Conn. (July 14, 2008) — Former University of Connecticut baseball standout and 2008 co-captain, Pat Mahoney, signed a free agent contract with the Chicago Cubs on Friday.
Mahoney, a 6-foot-0, 205-pound utility player for the Huskies, will be assigned as a catcher to the Boise Hawks, the Cubs' affiliate in the Northwest League. Des Moines, Iowa native played four seasons with the UConn ball club under head coach Jim Penders. During his career with the Huskies, he played every position except pitcher and centerfield. The recent UConn graduate hit .281 in the 2008 season while recording 62 hits and starting all 55 games for the Huskies.
In his four-year career at UConn, Mahoney played in 208 games and recorded 779 at-bats, the most in UConn program history, while he stands in a three-way tie with 46 career doubles, the second best tally all-time for the Huskies.
Mahoney is the seventh former UConn player since 1994 to sign a professional contract as a catcher. Kyle Cooney (Dodgers, '94), Jeff Uccello (Red Sox, '97), Jason Grabowski (Rangers, '97), Brian Esposito (Red Sox, '00), Mike Leonard (Red Sox, '04) and Larry Day (Yankees, '07) are among the Huskies signed as catchers to play at the professional level.
"I got a call from Pat on Thursday telling me that the Cubs needed a catcher after the Rich Harden trade," said Penders. "They called and offered him a contract and he's already in Boise with the team. We (UConn coaching staff) are thrilled for him and his family. This is a great opportunity for a great ball player."
Prior to coming to UConn, Mahoney was drafted by Tampa Bay in the 49th round of Major League Baseball's June 2004 draft after leading Lincoln High School as an All-State selection. Mahoney is the second member of his family to play professional baseball as his cousin, Mike Mahoney, was drafted in the 39th round of the June 1995 draft by Atlanta. He played in the farm system of the Braves, Cubs, Cardinals and Blue Jays before moving up to the Major League to play in the Cubs and Cardinals' organizations.
* Information for the above release courtesy of Des Moines Register
