Adam Maier

Maier’s on-field resume is quite thin, largely through conditions outside of his control, but his stuff is some of the best in the draft class. A North Vancouver, B.C. native, Maier has thrown just 60 innings in three seasons of college ball, barely more than the 58 innings he threw as a high school senior. As a freshman two-way player (outfielder/pitcher) for B.C. in the coronavirus-shortened 2020 season he threw 19 innings. The school’s 2021 season was canceled for coronavirus. He impressed scouts in 25.2 innings in the Cape Cod League, then transferred to Oregon, where he became the team’s 2022 Friday starter. After just 15.2 innings, Maier injured his elbow in his third start of the season and eventually had brace surgery to stabilize his UCL. When healthy, Maier flashes three pitches that could end up being plus, all from a lower-than-normal arm slot. His 2,900 rpm slider is a plus pitch that could end up being a plus-plus offering. He has shown he can throw it for strikes. It misses plenty of bats, but those who do hit it usually beat it into the ground. His mid-80s changeup with significant run and tumble could end up being an even better pitch. His 92-94 mph two-seam fastball generates bushels of sink, making it a ground ball machine. Maier has yet to have the results to match his stuff, but his stuff is worth a second look.