Prep Baseball Report

Neil Devlin "Catching Up" with Former Mullen Grad Maverick Handley


Neil Devlin
Senior Writer

 



Maverick Handley

Class of 2016 / C

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2016
    Commitment: Stanford
  • Primary Position: C
    Secondary Position: 3B
  • High School: Mullen
    State: CO
  • Height: 5-11
    Weight: 195lbs
  • Bat/Throw: R/R

Statistics

Position
7.24
60-yard
1.75 - 1.78
Pop Time
88
INF Velo
83
C Velo
92
Exit Velo
4.35
H-1st

Videos

(2/7/16)

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“It’s kind of crazy how fast it has gone by,” Maverick Handley said recently.

Seems like the talented student-athlete graduated yesterday from Mullen in Southwest Denver, but here he is in his third year at Stanford.  

If times flies while having fun, then Handley has had more laughs that Krusty the Klown on “The Simpsons.

For instance:

--- As a freshman in 2017, Handley appeared in 39 games and started 35 as a catcher. The Cardinal was 28-7 with him as a starter.

--- He batted .257 with 26 runs scored, 10 doubles and 13 RBIs. He was second on the team with a .390 on-base percentage, including 21 walks, and he was credited with 11 sacrifice bunts.

--- Before an injury to his left arm the past May, Handley appeared in 44 games, 43 starts, and batted .231 with two home runs, 23 RBIs, 31 runs scored and a .362 on-base percentage. H also was Pac-12 Conference All-Academic first team with his major in biomechanical engineering.

Handley also had credentials before landing at Stanford. As a junior at Mullen, he batted .483 with three homers and 13 RBIs. A year later, it was .461 with six homers and 33 RBIs. He was all-Centennial League, Class 5A All-State and All-Colorado multiple times. He also was The Denver Athletic Club’s male student-athlete of the year.

Now 5-foot-11, 200 pounds, and less than when he played as a Mustang, he said he “feels faster” and has swiped some bags.

“Stanford gives us a lot of opportunities to help us along academically,” Handley said. “I felt pretty prepared coming from Mullen. It was not that hard of a jump.”

Nor was making the transition from Colorado schoolboy play to Division I – Handley acted like he belonged immediately.

“You know, I was shocked at how much time I got as a freshman,” he said. “There were some injuries that got me to play a lot of games, but I didn’t feel like I was overmatched.”

For sure, he said, “I think there is a big learning curve from a high school in Colorado to playing in the Pac-12. Defensively, I knew I would be fine. It has never been a problem for me.”

The past season, Handley threw out 17 of 26 runners attempting to steal.

However, the greatest adjustment for in-staters heading to D-I as position players – Colorado fares much better sending pitchers – is being able to hit.

 “It’s the biggest,” Handley said. “In cold-weather states, there’s definitely a difference than in in the warm-weather ones. There’s not as much time to play.”

Handley and the Cardinal should be strong again in 2019. They have a lot of talent returning and Handley will be in the middle of it.

He played in the Cape Cod League (Falmouth) the past summer and loved it, and is hopeful of getting drafted this season. If it doesn’t work out then or in the future, Handley has a 3.77 grade-point average and another plan, pre-med.

“I’m still trying to pursue it,” he said of his favorite game, “but if baseball doesn’t work out, I’ll probably go the medical-school route.”