Jason Maas

Jason Gregory Maas

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 190 lb.

• School Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
• High School Bishop O'Dowd High School
• Born March 17, 1963

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

The brother of Kevin Maas, outfielder Jason Maas reached AAA but did not make the major leagues.

Jason was picked earlier in the draft than his brother, going to the New York Yankees in the tenth round of the 1985 amateur draft. He hit .286/.413/.346 with 16 steals in 19 tries in his pro debut for the Oneonta Yankees. He was 10th in the New York-Penn League in average, right behind Dwight Smith, and helped Oneonta to the title. He moved up to the Fort Lauderdale Yankees in 1986 and put up a .259/.368/.313 line, with a team-high 32 steals in 40 tries. Maas split 1987 between Fort Lauderdale (.283/.379/.381, 17 SB, 4 CS) and the Prince William Yankees (.197/~.309/.248 in 45 G). With Fort Lauderdale, he was a teammate of his brother's, the two posting similar averages (Kevin at .278) and steal totals (Kevin stole 14), but Kevin had significantly more pop (11 HR to Jason's 1). While Kevin Maas was a Florida State League All-Star, Jason Maas got the big hit in the FSL championship game, a two-run pinch-hit double.

In 1988, Jason hit .271/.351/.363 for the Albany-Colonie Yankees with 8 triples and 15 steals in 20 tries. While his brother again made the league All-Star team, Jason had played a role once more in helping his club win the pennant, topping the Eastern League. Returning to Albany in 1989, he improved to .296/.394/.385 with 24 steals in 31 tries and 61 walks. He won yet another pennant. Maas was fourth in the EL in average, behind Jim Leyritz, Wes Chamberlain and Beau Allred. He was third in OBP, trailing Leyritz and Leo Gomez. He failed to make the EL All-Star outfield as Allred, Chamberlain and Joey Belle were picked.

Maas spent his last two seasons with the Columbus Clippers. He hit .248/.360/.367 with 13 steals (never caught) in 1990, splitting time with Van Snider, Oscar Azocar, Hensley Meulens and John Fishel. He began 1991 hot with Columbus at .352/.459/.507 in 30 games. When the Yankees did not promote him (their outfield consisted of Mel Hall, Jesse Barfield, Bernie Williams, Roberto Kelly and Meulens), he asked to be released, to try his chances elsewhere. New York refused to release him and Jason retired from baseball. His brother said that the Yankees "never treated [Jason] well"

In 630 minor league games, Maas had hit .273 with over 100 steals. Not a slugger, he had 14 career home runs.

Sources

• 1986-1987 Baseball America Statistics Reports
• 1988 and 1990 Baseball Almanacs
• 1989 and 1991 Baseball Guides
• The Greatest 21 Days blog