PAUL MAHOLM

6/25/82; '03 1st; Mississippi State Univ.
L/L; 6-2, 214

Level	W-L-Sv	G	GS	IP	H	BB	K	ERA
2003 A-	2-1-0	8	8	34.1	25	10	32	1.83
2004 A+	1-3-0	8	8	44.0	39	15	28	1.84
2004 A	0-2-0	3	3	12.1	17	10	12	9.49
2004 R	0-0-0	1	0	4.0	5	1	2	2.25

Level	W-L-Sv	G	GS	IP	H	BB	K	ERA	OAVG	OOBP	OSLG
2005 NL	3-1-0	6	6	41.1	31	17	26	2.18	.209	.304	.304
2005 AAA	1-1-0	6	6	35.2	40	12	21	3.53	.286	.346	.386
2005 AA	6-2-0	16	16	81.2	73	26	75	3.20	.243	.307	.352

The Bucs took Maholm with the 8th pick in the 2003 draft. In his junior season in college, Maholm went 9-2, 2.76, allowing 102 hits and 39 walks, and striking out 101 in 107.2 IP. Maholm and Bryan Bullington were products of the Pirates' preference for using their first round picks on safe choices who were expected to reach the majors soon, specifically college pitchers. Assigned to Williamsport, Maholm showed an 88-91 mph fastball with good movement, along with a slider, curve and change. The last two pitches seemed to impress observers the most. He's regarded as being able to throw inside effectively. He was effective at Williamsport, as would be expected from a college pitcher taken in the first round, and he was chosen the league's 14th best prospect. He started 2004 at Lynchburg and posted an outstanding ERA, but his other #s were less impressive, especially his low K rate. Bullington had a similar experience in high A and it seemed possible that the low ERA was the product of an accomplished college pitcher dominating too low a level, while the other #s may indicate a relatively low ceiling. Interestingly, NY-P League managers and scouts had a higher opinion of Tom Gorzelanny than of Maholm, and some Pirates' officials had a higher opinion of Zach Duke coming out of 2004 training camp than they did of Maholm. In any event, Maholm unfortunately suffered a serious injury when he was hit in the face with a line drive. The blow fractured the bones around his eye, requiring surgery. He returned in August, but struggled badly in his rehab efforts at Hickory, including serious control problems, as he was suffering from double vision and needed a second facial surgery.

Maholm erased any concerns about his health by impressing the Pirates in training camp, enough so that they assigned him to Altoona to start the 2005 season. It had originally been expected that he'd head back to Lynchburg initially. He made a strong showing in AA, with a much-improved K rate, and won a promotion to Indianapolis. He struggled a little more there, but six starts isn't enough to draw any conclusions. More importantly, he got called up to Pittsburgh and made six major league starts, pitching very well in all but one and twice allowing no runs and just four hits over eight innings. Opponents hit just 209/304/304 against him in the majors. He did have some trouble with his control and didn't fan many hitters, but that's not surprising given his experience level. With Dave Williams gone, Maholm should be a favorite for the rotation in 2006.

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