University of Richmond Athletics
Joe Mahoney Named Baltimore Orioles' Top Minor League Player
09/23/2010 | Baseball
Sept. 23, 2010
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND - Former University of Richmond baseball standout Joe Mahoney has earned the top honor in the Baltimore Orioles farm system, being named the 2010 winner of the Brooks Robinson Minor League Player of the Year Award.
Mahoney, 23, not only was the organization's best minor league hitter -- he batted .307 with 30 doubles, 18 homers and 78 RBIs in 124 combined games at Bowie and Single-A Frederick -- but he also was one of its biggest surprises. A sixth-round pick in 2007 from Richmond, Mahoney wasn't listed among the Orioles' top 30 prospects by Baseball America to begin the season.
"I try not to look at any of that stuff. There are guys on that list that shouldn't be on it, and there are guys that aren't on that list that are great players," Mahoney said. "To me, it's more important what these guys think about me, the Orioles think about me, and not Baseball America or whoever is writing an article about the Orioles."
Mahoney, 6-feet-6, was always considered a good athlete, but has slimmed down and blossomed as a baseball player. He is considered the best defensive first baseman in the system and was twice named the organization's Hitter of the Month.
"The Orioles are a great organization, and for them to give me this award speaks a lot about the year I had," Mahoney said. "I've come a long way, working hard, and trying to be the future first baseman for the Orioles, hopefully."
Playing three seasons for the Spiders, Mahoney stands ninth on the team's all-time home runs list (31) and is seventh in RBI (152). He was a Second Team All-Atlantic 10 pick in 2007.
Along with Mahoney, the Orioles honored Zach Britton with the Jim Palmer Minor League Pitcher of the Year Award.
Taken from the Baltimore Sun
