- Full name Christopher John Maldonado
- Born 04/22/2003 in Livingston, NJ
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Vanderbilt
Top Rankings
Draft Prospects
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School: Vanderbilt Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.2
Maldonado was viewed as a high IQ player with solid tools across the board as a high schooler. He ranked No. 338 in the 2022 draft class, then made it to campus at Vanderbilt where he led the team with a .310 average in his freshman season. Now a draft-eligible sophomore, Maldonado is expected to move from primary DH duties to first base this spring, though his offensive profile is more contact over power and is unlikely to profile well in pro ball at the position. He showed solid on-base ability, though much of that was fueled by a high .357 BABIP in 2023 and he’ll need to shore up his chases outside the zone. Maldonado He played shortstop in high school and has played all four infield positions in college between two summer ball leagues and most likely fits best at second. -
School: Seton Hall Prep, West Orange, N.J. Committed/Drafted: Vanderbilt
Age At Draft: 19.2
Maldonado’s brother, Frank, played baseball at Pittsburgh. His other brother, Nick, is a reliever at Vanderbilt. The belief among many scouts is that, while Maldonado is a solid prospect, he might not get drafted because he seems intent on following in his brothers’ footsteps to play college baseball, with Maldonado flipping his commitment from Clemson to Vanderbilt after the Tigers fired coach Monte Lee following the 2022 season. Maldonado doesn’t have a plus tool, but he’s a high baseball IQ player who should be a strong college performer. He has quick hands, a short swing, a good sense of the strike zone and has shown feel for hitting in games with occasional home run power to his pull side. An average runner with around an average arm, Maldonado is a shortstop with good hands who reads hops well, though his range is probably better suited at second or third base in pro ball. Maldonado turned 19 in April, so he’s on the older end of the class and will be a draft-eligible sophomore in 2024 assuming he goes to Vanderbilt.
Top 100 Rankings
Career Transactions
- 3B Chris Maldonado assigned to Vanderbilt Commodores.