Max Carlson Stats & Scouting Report

IP	11.2
ERA	2.31
WHIP	1.11
BB/9	3.86
SO/9	6.94

Full name Maxwell Christian Carlson
Born 09/13/2001 in Edina, MN
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School North Carolina
Drafted in the 12th round (358th overall) by the Boston Red Sox in 2023 (signed for $150,000).

View Draft Report

School: North Carolina Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.8
Carlson ranked as the No. 241 prospect in the 2020 class out of high school thanks to pitchabiltiy and a sound three-pitch mix. Three years later at North Carolina, Carlson’s pitchability remains, but his pitch mix is composed of two offerings more often than not and his results have been just middling. In 2023 he posted a 5.45 ERA through 14 starts and 76 innings, with a 23.4% strikeout rate and 9.8% walk rate. While that walk rate was the lowest of his career, Carlson also gave up the long ball at his highest-ever rate—a 17.2% clip per fly ball. A 6-foot-1, 210-pound righthander, Carlson pitches in the 90-93 mph range and touches 95, and uses a low-80s changeup as his primary secondary and swing-and-miss pitch. He generated a 40% miss rate with the changeup this spring, which was far and away his most effective bat-missing offering. He’ll also mix in a low-80s slider, but he used the pitch at just a 7% rate. Carlson is the younger brother of Sam Carlson, who pitches in the Mariners organization.

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Draft Prospects

School: North Carolina Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.8
Carlson ranked as the No. 241 prospect in the 2020 class out of high school thanks to pitchabiltiy and a sound three-pitch mix. Three years later at North Carolina, Carlson’s pitchability remains, but his pitch mix is composed of two offerings more often than not and his results have been just middling. In 2023 he posted a 5.45 ERA through 14 starts and 76 innings, with a 23.4% strikeout rate and 9.8% walk rate. While that walk rate was the lowest of his career, Carlson also gave up the long ball at his highest-ever rate—a 17.2% clip per fly ball. A 6-foot-1, 210-pound righthander, Carlson pitches in the 90-93 mph range and touches 95, and uses a low-80s changeup as his primary secondary and swing-and-miss pitch. He generated a 40% miss rate with the changeup this spring, which was far and away his most effective bat-missing offering. He’ll also mix in a low-80s slider, but he used the pitch at just a 7% rate. Carlson is the younger brother of Sam Carlson, who pitches in the Mariners organization.
The younger brother of Mariners righthander Sam Carlson, Max doesn’t have Sam’s consistent premium velocity, but he shows more polish at the same age. The younger Carlson sits 88-92 mph with the ability to land his 75-79 mph future above-average curveball for strikes, and his advanced changeup has solid deception. None of his three pitches is plus, but all have average or better potential. Carlson can touch 94-95 sporadically, but when he does he is prone to overthrowing. Carlson is a North Carolina signee.