Zach
Maxwell

2022 MLB Draft: Projected to become an early Day Two selection, the 6-foot-6, 275-pound right-hander sat 97-98 mph with a 2550-2610 rpm spin rate at the MLB Draft Combine in mid-June. He also showed inconsistent control of 86-88 hard curveball with sharp bite and hard action at times. His low-spin split changeup plunged at 89. All of these traits were consistent with what he showed throughout the season for the Yellow Jackets. The power right-hander does have a simple, repeatable delivery with compact arm action, but his release point widely varies. For the season he walked 41 in 51 IP which runs close in line with his previous two season totals of 57 BB in 46 IP. He does miss bats with 14.6 K/9 IP during his college career, but it is quickly negated by a walk rate of 9.1/9 IP. Maxwell has a pure reliever profile and a body type like Jonathan Broxton, but time will tell if he can harness his stuff and turn it into greater pitchability. Although Maxwell has a much better history of good health, Bryce Montes de Oca (Missouri), drafted in the 9th round by the Mets in 2018 is a recent college comparable in regards to size and stuff.

MLB Draft Combine: XXL framed power pitcher body type. Quick arm. High three-quarter release point. Fast-paced, ,all stretch delivery. FB 97-98 with 2550-2610 rpm. Inconsistent control of 86-88 hard CB into the 2500s. Sharp bite with hard action at times. Split CH 89, low spin 1600s. Blow-n-Go power arm thrower for the back of a ML pen.

Currently projected to be selected mid-Day Two (Preseason Top 250 Prospects), the 6-foot-6, 275-pound right-hander struggled during his Sunday start against the Hokies. With a fastball up to 97 mph (mostly 93-95) and an inconsistent 81-83 mph breaking ball, Maxwell threw 62 pitches (33 strikes) over 2-plus innings. The power right-hander does have a simple, repeatable delivery with compact arm action, but his release point widely varies. At times he was overpowering with his easy heater, but he more often threw noncompetitive pitches well above the zone. Each pitch was so far out of the strike zone that a swing decision by the hitter wasn't necessary. It was simply auto-take. Maxwell also flashed a plus hard curveball and two of his three strikeouts were via the hammer, but again the breaker was just too inconsistent to evaluate anything more than the pitch playing below average as a whole. For the season Maxwell has walked 15 in 14 IP which runs in line with his previous two season totals of 57 BB in 46.1 IP. He does miss bats with 15.3 K/9 IP during his college career, but it is quickly negated by a walk rate of 10.5/9 IP. It was only one look on a cool day in Atlanta, but it was a look that is becoming all too familiar. Maxwell has a pure reliever profile and a body type like Jonathan Broxton, but time will tell if he can harness his stuff and turn it into greater pitchability. Bryce Montes de Oca (Missouri), drafted in the 9th round by the Mets in 2018 comes to memory as a recent college comparable.

Cape Cod- A pure power pitcher with an enormous 6-foot-7, 275-pound physique, Maxwell was a strikeout machine as a 2YR FR at Georgia Tech this spring, fanning 56 in 32 innings — but also walking 41. He continued to miss a ton of bats this summer (25 K in 11.2 IP), and while his walk rate remained high, at least it dipped below a walk per inning. We've seen him up to 99 mph in the past, and he worked at 95-98 this summer, with good riding life up in the zone. He also featured a hammer curveball at 83-85 mph with hard downer action and spin rates in the 2600-2700 rpm range. With a high release and steep, downhill plane, Maxwell strikes an intimidating look for opposing hitters. He can struggle at times finding the zone, and he offers an unusual combination of being surprisingly hittable thanks to loose command, but also the ability to miss bats by the boatload. When he executes, he is simply overpowering. When his release is off, his breaking ball can hang and his fastball catches too much white. Maxwell has a pure reliever profile, and Holliday thinks he can be a major league closer in the Jonathan Broxton mold. He also stands out for his makeup, and he emerged as the leader of the pitching staff from the start of the summer to the finish.