Mitch Maier Stats & Scouting Report

AB	977
AVG	.248
OBP	.327
SLG	.344
HR	10

Full name Mitchell William Maier
Born 06/30/1982 in Petoskey, MI
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Toledo
Debut 09/23/2006
Drafted in the 1st round (30th overall) by the Kansas City Royals in 2003 (signed for $900,000).

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The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Maier ranks among the elite catchers in the college game, and his lefthanded bat sets him apart. He led the Mid-American Conference in hitting as a freshman with a .444 average, and duplicated that feat this spring, hitting .457. He also led the MAC in stolen bases--a rare feat for a catcher. A 3-1 walk-strikeout ratio further bolsters his offensive profile. Defense is not one of Maier's strong suits. His receiving skills are suspect, and while he has good arm strength his release is a little slow. Experience should cure most of his shortcomings, and he has the speed and athletic ability to move to the outfield, if necessary. Maier was an all-state quarterback in Michigan and lived minutes away from the University of Michigan. He planned to play baseball and football there, but changed his mind when he learned that Michigan had recruited two other catchers--one being Jake Fox, who also should be a factor in this year's draft.

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Organization Prospect Rankings

There's very little projection left in the 26-year-old Maier, but he has proven that he can be a useful contributor in the majors. The Royals made him the final pick in 2003's first round, in part because he was willing to sign for a below-slot $900,000 bonus. Maier does a lot of little things well. He can play a solid center field--he was the best defensive center fielder on the big league roster before Kansas City traded for Coco Crisp--and can play anywhere in the outfield and even serve as an emergency catcher. He has average speed with solid instincts that allow him to take an extra base and steal if he catches a pitcher napping. He also hits for solid average with a little bit of pop and has showed an improved approach and swing in recent years, but he still doesn't provide enough offense to be a big league regular. Maier dreamed of being a defensive back for Michigan as a kid, and he still carries that all-out mentality onto the baseball field. He missed only a couple of weeks after a Zach Jackson fastball broke three bones in his face in mid-August. Maier will likely never be more than a backup outfielder, but his attitude, versatility and decent bat should help him spend 2009 in Kansas City.
Maier has been able to match the offensive promise of his professional debut following his first-round selection in 2003. And after playing catcher and third base early in his pro career, Maier has emerged as a steady defensive center fielder. But he has not been consistent enough at the plate to settle the question of whether he's more than a fourth outfielder. He worked with Omaha hitting coach Terry Bradshaw to get his hands in a better load position. The change--he now has the bat off his left shoulder when it was previously wrapped with the barrel pointed to center field--has helped him get ready to hit and shorten a swing that tended to get a little long. He hovered around .300 for most of the season before an August slump in which he hit just .222. He still strikes out too much, but the organization may accept that as part of his profile. Maier has defensive instincts, gets good reads on balls, and has enough arm to play any outfield position. Though not a basestealer, Maier has average speed and is a competent baserunner. A hard worker with good makeup, he'll have a shot to make the big league club out of spring training.
Maier prompts more divided opinion than perhaps any player in the system. Some see him as an everyday center fielder, while others think he's a fourth outfielder. He was part of an all-first-rounder outfield in Wichita, flanked by Billy Butler and Chris Lubanski. A catcher in college, Maier first moved to third base as a pro. He was the leader of a star-studded Wichita club and earns high praise for his work ethic. He has shortened his swing and improved his rhythm and balance. He stays tough against lefthanders and posted an .888 OPS against them in 2006. He has average speed and arm strength, and his good instincts allow him to play center. Though Maier is a well-rounded player, none of his tools jump out. His swing still gets long with an uppercut at times, and he needs to continue refining his approach at the plate. He profiles better for the top rather than for the middle of a batting order, and thus could stand to draw more walks. Maier's defense has improved and his chances of being an everyday player have increased now that he has proven he can play center. His makeup and all-around tools should make him at least a big league reserve. He'll get the opportunity to make the Royals in spring training.
Maier, who went 30th overall in 2003 in part because he'd sign for $900,000, has moved from catching in college to third base and now the outfield as a pro. Toledo's all-time leading hitter with a .414 average, he has started each of his two full pro seasons with a flourish and then leveled off following promotions. Maier's hand-eye coordination makes for consistent contact. He gets good leverage in his swing when it works right, so he has more power potential than he has shown. An above-average runner with solid instincts on the bases, he covers plenty of ground in center field. He improved so much at tracking balls that some Royals officials believe he's a better center fielder than Chris Lubanski. Maier's arm is good for center field and average for right. Maier's hands often drift forward as a pitch approaches, costing him power as he gets ahead of his body. Better balance could boost his home run totals and reduce his strikeouts. More patience at the plate also would help. Some scouts liken Maier to Paul O'Neill as a hitter and run producer. He'll work to fine-tune his swing this year in Double-A.
Maier turned down an offer to walk on the Michigan football team as a defensive back, opting instead to play baseball at Toledo, where he led the Mid-American Conference in batting as a freshman and junior. The Rockets' all-time leading hitter at .414, he agreed to a $900,000 predraft deal in 2003. Maier's hand-eye coordination allows for patience and consistent contact, though his plate discipline slipped in 2004. The Royals have encouraged him to move his hands closer to his body, which should shorten his swing and help him improve against breaking balls. Maier runs well underway and displays good instincts along the basepaths. A college catcher, Maier moved to third base to address an organizational weakness. The results have been mixed, as he lacks first-step quickness and doesn't read balls well off the bat. His likely destination is an outfield corner. He needs to add a touch of leverage to his swing to develop more power. Maier could move quickly once he finds a position. If he has a good spring, he could open 2005 in Double-A.
Maier was an all-state quarterback growing up near Michigan and had an offer to walk on to the Wolverines football team as a safety, but he turned it down to play baseball at Toledo. He led the Mid-American Conference in batting as a freshman and junior, also topping the league in steals as a junior. He signed for $900,000 as the 30th overall pick. The Royals drafted Maier for his bat. His build and offensive approach recall Twins prospect Joe Mauer's. Maier understands the strike zone, makes consistently hard contact and has natural loft power that could lead to 25 homers a year. He hits lefthanders as well as righthanders. Maier's speed, acceleration and smarts could allow him to reach double figures in steals. Maier needs a defensive home. A quirk in his throwing motion limited his effectiveness at catcher, so the Royals addressed an organization weakness by moving him to third base in instructional league. He'll probably play the outfield in 2004, as they just want him to get comfortable at the plate and not worry about defense for the time being. Maier was hurt more than any Royals player by the organization's two Arizona League teams last year. He'll make a small jump this year to low Class A, where he'll flank Chris Lubanski as a corner outfielder.

Minor League Top Prospects

Maier's makeup and maturity prompted the Royals to speed up his timetable in his first full pro season. The former All-America catcher at Toledo reached the Carolina League and spent the whole season at third base. Maier committed 27 errors in 119 games at his new position but also showed promise with the bat. He was a .300 hitter in the Midwest League before being promoted to Wilmington. The new position and long season wore his bat down a bit after the promotion. Most scouts see Maier as a corner outfielder down the road, although he has made strides this season in improving defensively at the hot corner. "From instructional league until now, he's improved immensely in terms of his footwork, his angles and reading the ball off the bat," Gardner Jr. said. "I think when he gets comfortable there or even if he has to make another position change down the road, it will only help out his bat. He's got a good frequency of contact, but will only improve with more experience. He's had to make some adjustments, but he's been smart enough to be able to do that."
Maier ordinarily wouldn't be sent to a complex league because he was a polished college player. He hit .414 at the University of Toledo and .350 in his pro debut. He's an impressive lefthanded hitter with good plate discipline and rare athleticism for a catcher. Maier didn't show the home run power expected, but Simmons said he'll have more pop down the road. What's not so certain is whether Maier will remain behind the plate. His exchange from mitt to hand is slow, his throws lack carry, and his blocking and receiving skills need polish. One manager even said Maier threw like he had a sore arm. "He reminds me of Mike Sweeney when he was coming up in the Royals system," Rangers manager Pedro Lopez said. "They're both athletic, have the same body types and swing the bat the same. Sweeney also lacked arm strength, which forced him to eventually move to first base."