Justin Maese

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #11 prospect in 2017
  The Blue Jays signed Maese for just $300,000, less than half the bonus slot for the 91st overall pick. Held back in extended spring training in 2016, he earned the first start of the season for short-season Vancouver, then got a promotion to low Class A Lansing, Maese has a fine pitcher's frame at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds with the athleticism and present strength to repeat his delivery. He attacks hitters seeking early-count contact and gets it, usually on the ground. He generated more than two groundouts for every out in the air in 2016. He averaged right around 13 pitches per inning, making him one of the organization's most efficient pitchers. His sinking fastball touches 96 mph and resides in the 90-94 range with the best fastball life in the organization. Maese picked up a new slider grip this year to give him a solid-average secondary pitch. It's hard, reaching the upper 80s. He's still learning some feel for the pitch and learning a changeup. He needs to refine his defense. The Jays have had success developing power sinkerballers of late, including Henderson Alvarez and Aaron Sanchez. Maese has similar sink with a bit less velocity than those two and profiles as a back-of-the-rotation starter. He could start 2017 at high Class A Dunedin and should finish the season there.
• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #9 prospect in 2016
  The starting quarterback and punter, Maese threw for more than 5,000 yards and 38 touchdowns for Ysleta High in El Paso. He's from a baseball family, as his older brother Carlos wound up pitching collegiately at West Texas A&M and taught him a slider. He signed for $300,000, less than half of the slot value, then excelled in his pro debut, including a 10-strikeout, six-inning effort in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League playoffs. Athletic and live-armed, Maese delivers from a low three-quarters delivery that helps him impart excellent sink to his fastball. His velocity came and went during the spring, which led to his draft stock rising and falling, but when he stays on top of the ball in his delivery, he can push 96 mph with plus sinking life. He'll sit 89-93 mph most of the time but could fill out and hold higher velocity longer down the line. He has work to do to polish his changeup and slider, which at times flashes pus with mid-80s power. Maese had an exceptional groundball rate in his debut (2.58 grounds per airout) and profiles as a power sinkerballer if it all works out. He should be ready for a jump to low Class A Lansing in 2016.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #134 prospect in 2015 draft
  Maese climbed this spring from off of draft boards into consideration for the top 10 rounds because scouts who saw him at his best saw an above-average fastball and a slider that flashed above-average. But scouts who stuck around for a few more starts saw the stuff often drop back from the 93-96 mph he showed at his best to 88-92 mph. Maese's feel for the breaking ball comes and goes and his delivery involves effort and is somewhat mechanical. But Maese has lots of arm speed and potential if he can smooth out the rough edges. He is committed to Texas Tech.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Northwest League #8 prospect in 2016
  After starting the year in extended spring training, Maese moved to Vancouver. The 19-year-old showed a solid three-pitch mix that allowed him to dominate in his short NWL stint, earning him a promotion to low Class A Lansing. Maese starts his arsenal with a heavy sinking fastball that sits in the 91-95 mph range that allowed him to record one of the most extreme groundball rates in the NWL. He couples the fastball with a slider and changeup, both of which flash above-average potential. He delivers from a three-quarters arm slot, which helps generate heavy sinking life on his fastball. If everything clicks, Maese profiles as a power sinkerballer toward the back of a rotation.

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: The Blue Jays signed Maese for just $300,000, less than half the bonus slot for the 91st overall pick. Held back in extended spring training in 2016, he earned the first start of the season for short-season Vancouver, then got a promotion to low Class A Lansing. Scouting Report: Maese has a fine pitcher's frame at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds with the athleticism and present strength to repeat his delivery. He attacks hitters seeking early-count contact and gets it, usually on the ground. He generated more than two groundouts for every out in the air in 2016. He averaged right around 13 pitches per inning, making him one of the organization's most efficient pitchers. His sinking fastball touches 96 mph and resides in the 90-94 range with the best fastball life in the organization. Maese picked up a new slider grip this year to give him a solid-average secondary pitch. It's hard, reaching the upper 80s. He's still learning some feel for the pitch and learning a changeup. He needs to refine his defense. The Future: The Jays have had success developing power sinkerballers of late, including Henderson Alvarez and Aaron Sanchez. Maese has similar sink with a bit less velocity than those two and profiles as a back-of-the-rotation starter. He could start 2017 at high Class A Dunedin and should finish the season there.