Nathaniel
Maldonado

Nathaniel Maldonado, La Mirada High (CA), 2028
Positional Profile: RHP/2B Two-way talent with starter traits on the mound.
Body: 5-7, 176-pounds. Compact, strong frame with a sturdy build and good lower-half strength packed into his size.
Delivery: Begins with the hands set high before bringing them down to the chest as he initiates the move. Incorporates a side step into a pronounced leg lift, gathering into balance before driving forward. Maintains body control throughout the motion and finishes in a stable, balanced position.
Arm Action: RH. Arm works on a full, fluid path with quick acceleration into a lower three-quarter slot. Arm speed stands out, producing a lively finish.
FB: T84, 83-84 mph. Shows natural sink through the zone, giving the pitch a heavy feel. Works with intent and flashes the ability to induce weak contact. T2076, 1994 average rpm.
SL: 76-78 mph. Tight breaking ball with late, slurve action. Flashes swing-and-miss potential when located. T2307, 2172 average rpm.
ATH: 7.58 runner in the 60. 1.77 and 4.18 in the 10 and 30 yard splits. 18.30 max vertical.

Nathaniel Maldonado, La Mirada High (CA), 2028
Positional Profile: RHP/2B Two-way talent with starter traits on the mound.
Body: 5-7, 176-pounds. Compact, strong frame with a sturdy build and good lower-half strength packed into his size.
Hit: RHH. Sets up slightly open in the box with the hands starting high before working down into the load. Uses a short, controlled stride to get on time while staying balanced. Swing features a longer barrel path with gap to gap impact. Produces firm contact with flashes of impact power, with additional strength likely to enhance production. 63.3 mph bat speed with 19 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 92 max exit velocity, averaged 85.1 mph. 251' max distance.
Arm: RH. INF-85 mph. OF-83 mph. Full arm action from a three-quarter slot with carry on throws across the diamond.
Defense: Works through the ball with smooth two-hand gathers and finishes plays with aggressive, confident follow-through.
ATH: 7.58 runner in the 60. 1.77 and 4.18 in the 10 and 30 yard splits. 18.30 max vertical.
Vizual Edge: 64.43 Edge Score

Maldonado turned in a strong all-around showing on his home turf, flashing intriguing two-way upside throughout the event. He stood out early in BP with a highly consistent round, producing a 66.7% line-drive rate and an impressive 77.8% sweet-spot rate across all swings. Maldonado posted a 92 mph max exit velocity while showing present hand speed at 21.6 mph, reinforcing the quality of his contact. That line-drive approach translated seamlessly into game action, where he laced a double into left-center field in one of his two at-bats, continuing to show feel for the barrel and gap-to-gap intent. On the mound, Maldonado showed starter traits with strong command of his arsenal. His fastball sat 83-84 mph with subtle arm-side run, and he paired it with a 76-78 mph slider that tunneled well off the fastball, showing a more traditional horizontal break. The overall feel to pitch and ability to sequence stood out. With a compact but sturdy 5-7, 176-pound frame that profiles well for second base, Maldonado already shows a present hit tool and growing confidence on the mound. If this performance is any indication, he’s a 2028 name to follow closely as a two-way prospect poised to make meaningful strides and impact for his team moving into 2026.