Zach Maxwell

Maxwell showed a big fastball, a big body and questionable strikes as a high school arm, and that’s continued to be his profile after three years at Georgia Tech. Listed at 6-foot-6, 275 pounds, Maxwell is one of the biggest pitchers in the class and has one of the biggest fastballs to match. He throws a high-90s fastball that averaged 96 mph this spring and is routinely up to 100-101 mph. The pitch features high spin (2,500-2,700 rpm), has nearly 20 inches of induced vertical break and generated whiffs at a 34% rate this spring. He pairs it with a mid-80s power breaking ball that has slider velocity but top-down curveball shape. Like the fastball, Maxwell’s breaking ball has plenty of raw spin (2,600-2,800 rpm) and has been a reliable bat-missing pitch. After spending his first two years in the bullpen for the Yellow Jackets, Maxwell made six starts this spring—and he has toyed with a firm changeup—but his control is much more likely to place him in a reliever role at the next level. Maxwell has walked just over a batter per inning in his college career, so he’ll need to dramatically improve his strike throwing to make the most out of his admittedly terrific pure stuff.