There have been a number of individuals from Lafayette, and the Acadiana area, that have played in Major League Baseball over the years.

Obviously, the entire state of Louisiana has produced even more.

As a matter of fact, 246 people born in the state of Louisiana have appeared in a Major League Baseball game, beginning in 1874, with John Peters of New Orleans, who played 11 years, with the likes of the Chicago White Stockings, Milwaukee Grays, Providence Grays, Buffalo Bisons, and Pittsburgh Alleghenys.

All summer, we’ll preview a player from the state of Louisiana that appeared in Major League baseball, starting with players from Lafayette, before spotlighting players from the Acadiana area, and then a few from the state itself.

Yesterday, we spotlighted Luke Montz.

Today, we feature Mikie Mahtook.

Born in Lafayette in 1989, Mahtook, a right-handed hitting outfielder, has played parts of two seasons in Major League Baseball, with the Tampa Bay Rays, in both 2015 and 2016, with hopefully many more to come.

After playing his high school baseball at St. Thomas More, Mahtook was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 39th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.

Electing not to sign, Mahtook went on to play his college baseball at LSU, prior to being drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the first round, with the 31st-overall pick of the 2011 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Mahtook played for the Rays’ minor league affiliate in Surprise, Arizona in 2011, hitting a .338 with 3 home runs and 14 runs batted in, over 18 games, at the age of 21.

After spending 3 more seasons in the minor leagues, including time at AAA Durham (North Carolina), Mahtook was called up to the big leagues by the Rays in September of 2010, making him the 13th person born in the Lafayette area to ever play in Major League Baseball.

In his big league debut, against the then Atlanta Braves, Mahtook was 25 years old.

Mahtook collected his first big league hit in a huge way, belting a two-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 15 of 2015.

Splitting time between Tampa Bay and AAA Durham in 2015, Mahtook hit a .295 with 9 home runs, 19 runs batted in, and 4 stolen bases in 41 games at the big league level.

This season, Mahtook, in only 39 MLB at-bats, is hitting a .128 with a run batted in.

Viewed by many as a five-tool player, Mahtook likely has many successful years at the big league level ahead of him.

In 5 seasons in the minor leagues, Mahtook has hit a .267 with 35 homers, 253 RBI's, and 77 steals.

In parts of 2 seasons in Major League Baseball, Mahtook is hitting a .250 with 9 homers, 20 RBI's, and 4 stolen bases, in 144 at-bats, covering 53 games.

More From 103.3 The GOAT