T-Bones Sign Former Big Leaguer Mahar05/01/2008 8:33 AM - Kansas City T-Bones manager Andy McCauley has signed former Texas Rangers outfielder Kevin Mahar and former Baltimore Orioles farmhand David Haehnel. Mahar, 26, was originally signed by the Rangers in 2004 as a nondrafted free agent. He spent four seasons in their system before getting called up to the Texas big league squad where he played in seven games last season. He is a career .286 hitter with 57 home runs and 236 RBI.
“We’re really excited to have him,” said McCauley. “He should solidify the middle of our lineup and our outfield. He’s the type of guy that will likely get picked up by an organization so we’re just happy to have him as long as we can.”
In 2004, Mahar was fourth in the Northwest League with five home runs. He was third in runs scored with 98 the following season in the California League and eighth in the league with a .315 average.
Haehnel, 25, joins the T-Bones after spending the first four seasons of his professional career in the Baltimore Orioles system.
He began as a closer for the first two seasons of his professional career notching 34 saves over two seasons between class A Aberdeen, Delmarva and Frederick. In 28 games with Delmarva in 2005 he went 1-1 with a 0.79 ERA with 34 strikeouts and 10 walks.
“He’s an exciting player,” said McCauley. “We’re looking for him to be our closer. He was a closer early in his career with the Orioles before they made him a starter and we’re looking to put him back in the closing role.”
Haehnel was drafted by the Orioles in the eighth round of the 2004 draft. His first season in their system, his 16 saves led the league as did his 25 games finished. He was second in the league in relief points with 52 and fourth in games pitched with 28.
The T-Bones open their home schedule at CommunityAmerica Ballpark on May 23 against Schaumburg. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05. Single-game tickets, season tickets and mini plans are available now by calling the T-Bones box office at (913) 328-5618. null |