Justin Maxwell

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Washington Nationals #8 prospect in 2010
  The injury-prone Maxwell stayed healthy in 2009, when he scuffled through his first season in Triple-A. He also had three stints in the big leagues, going 0-for-16 in seven games in May but rebounding with a .306/.370/.551 line in September. A physical specimen with plus athleticism, Maxwell has above-average power potential and a patient offensive approach. Nats hitting coach Rick Eckstein and first-base coach Marquis Grissom got the idea to lower his hands to chest level after watching video of other long-levered sluggers like Willie Stargell and Dave Winfield, and the adjustment fueled Maxwell's September surge by getting him in a stronger position to drive the ball more consistently. He's a plus runner who stole 41 bases in 50 tries last season. He's also an above-average defender in center field with excellent range and instincts. Maxwell still must prove he can make consistent contact and hit in the majors over a full season. He also must become more aggressive against pitches away. He has a below-average arm. Injuries have marred four of his last six seasons, and he'll be 26 in 2010. The Nationals will likely give Maxwell a chance to win a starting outfield job in spring training. If he hits, he can be a valuable four-tool player.
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  Ranked Washington Nationals #11 prospect in 2009
  Injuries have dogged Maxwell since his college days at Maryland, but he showed what he could do in a full healthy season in 2007, when he turned in a 25-25 season, earned a late big league callup and delivered a pinchhit grand slam in his third at-bat. The Nationals expected to see him back in Washington some time in 2008, but he injured his wrist diving for a ball on May 19. He tried to play through the injury over the next week before the Nationals shut him down with what later was discovered to be a small fracture in his wrist. He returned for winter ball in Puerto Rico, where his .162/.330/.446 line in 74 at-bats reflected his patience, power potential and inconsistent contact. A gifted athletic specimen with a big, strong frame, Maxwell has a chance for four average or better tools. He's a patient hitter with average to plus power to all fields. In order to become an average hitter, he needs to stay taller in his stance and avoid collapsing on his back leg. He's a long strider with slightly above-average speed that plays up once he's underway. Maxwell is an intelligent baserunner and has a strong work ethic. He projects as an average defender in center field, but he still takes suspect routes from time to time. His arm is below average and eventually could make him a better fit in left. Maxwell looks more like a solid regular than a star, but he could be ready for an everyday role by the second half of 2010.
• 
  Ranked Washington Nationals #8 prospect in 2008
  After injuries plagued his college career and first full pro season in 2006, Maxwell stayed mostly healthy in 2007 and translated his immense talent into the only 25-double, 25-homer, 25-steal performance in the minors. After Potomac's season ended, he got a taste of the big leagues and his first hit was a grand slam in his third at-bat. The best athlete in the system, Maxwell finally started to tap into his above-average raw power in 2007, showing the ability to drive the ball out of the park to all fields. He's an above-average runner who can get good jumps on the basepaths and track down balls in the outfield gaps. Maxwell shortened his swing considerably over the past year, but he doesn't figure to hit for a high average in the majors. He needs to improve his pitch selection and lay off breaking balls in the dirt. He's a solid-average center fielder, but his arm is just fringe-average. He strengthened it last winter by throwing footballs. Maxwell garners comparisons to Mike Cameron for his speed/power mix and his inconsistent ability to hit for average. He could push for a job in Washington's outfield sometime in 2008, but a full year at Double-A to refine his approach would do him good.
• 
  Ranked Washington Nationals #18 prospect in 2007
  Considered a potential first-round pick as a junior in 2004, Maxwell battled freak injuries his final two seasons at Maryland. He signed late with the Nationals for a $390,000 bonus in 2005, and he was held back in extended spring training to start 2006 in order to find his rhythm. Maxwell hit a three-run homer in his pro debut in low Class A in late April before heading to the disabled list two weeks later after breaking his toe. He returned to the field a month later but played most of the second half at Vermont, where he flashed the power-speed mix that has tantalized scouts for years. Maxwell is a true five-tool talent with above-average speed that translates well on the basepaths and in the outfield. A long strider, Maxwell has excellent range and a solid-average arm in center field. He shows plus raw power in batting practice but has yet to harness it. Maxwell's swing tends to get long and he has trouble with pitches on the outer half. He has a solid approach at the plate, but he needs an uninterrupted string of at-bats so he can polish his offensive game. Maxwell should return to low Class A to open 2007, but at age 23 he needs to get moving, so the Nationals figure to push him once he gets his feet wet.
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  Ranked Washington Nationals #12 prospect in 2006
  An excellent student who graduated high school with a 4.0 grade-point average and chose Maryland over Harvard, Maxwell is even more gifted athletically. An exciting, toolsy talent, he burst onto the prospect landscape in 2003 by leading Maryland in the triple-crown categories and stolen bases as a sophomore and then lighting up the Cape Cod League. Projected as a possible 2004 first-rounder, Maxwell saw his junior season end before it began when he was hit by a pitch in an intrasquad game and broke his right arm. The Rangers still took him in the 10th round and planned to follow him in the Cape League, but he was hit by another pitch and broke his little finger. Injuries continued to plague him in 2005, as he missed most of the college season after breaking the hamate bone in his hand while hitting a ball on the barrel of the bat seven games into the season. The Nationals signed him for $390,000 as a fourth-rounder and considered him the equivalent of the second-rounder they forfeited for signing Vinny Castilla. Maxwell is an above-average runner who has been clocked down the first-base line in 4.15 seconds from the right side, and he has plus raw power. He's a plus defender, though his arm is no better than average. Until he proves otherwise, his health will be a concern. If he stays healthy, Maxwell could be an impact big league center fielder in two or three years. He'll make his pro debut with one of Washington's Class A affiliates in 2006.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #18 prospect in 2007
  Injuries plagued Maxwell during his last two seasons at Maryland and in 2006, his first year of pro ball, so most scouts and managers didn't hold his age (23) against the five-tool outfielder. He finally put together a complete season in 2007, batting .281/.363/.533 with 27 homers and 35 steals between two Class A stops. He finished the year in Washington, where he hit a homer off Tom Glavine. After hitting just five homers in his 91-game pro debut, Maxwell finally started the same power he shows in batting practice during games. His swing can get long, leading to strikeouts, but he's still productive. He uses his speed well in the outfield, where he saw time in center and left, and on the basepaths, where he was caught just eight times in steal attempts. "He's one of the few true five-tool players you'll see," Herr said. "He does everything very well and he made a lot of improvements this season. He's going to hit for a high average with some good power numbers and excellent defense. Justin could be a guy with 25 homers and 25 steals annually if he stays healthy."
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  Ranked New York-Penn League #13 prospect in 2006
  Maxwell had a breakout summer in the Cape Cod League back in 2003, but he missed most of the next two seasons at Maryland because of a broken right arm and broken hamate bone in his left hand. This was his first full season, and he struggled early in low Class A while battling a knee problem and a stress fracture in his toe. He finally got healthy at Vermont, though, and while it seems like he's been around forever, he played the season at 22. He's still a bit raw but showed some plus tools, particularly with his speed and defense. He improved his routes and angles, showed enough range for center field and is an effective defender at any outfield spot. Highly cerebral, Maxwell was a better player after he started being more aggressive in all phases--he stole home twice--and the Nationals accept his strikeouts if they come with more pop. He'll need to get stronger, both to get the most out of his average raw power and for him to stay in the lineup. "He had some of the best tools in the league, but what kind of player he'll be at higher levels is tough to say," one manager said. "He's big, he can throw all right and he can really run. I question the instincts."

• December, 2008 Scouting Report
  Injuries have dogged Maxwell since his college days at Maryland, but he showed what he could do in a full healthy season in 2007, when he turned in a 25-25 season, earned a late big league callup and delivered a pinchhit grand slam in his third at-bat. The Nationals expected to see him back in Washington some time in 2008, but he injured his wrist diving for a ball on May 19. He tried to play through the injury over the next week before the Nationals shut him down with what later was discovered to be a small fracture in his wrist. He returned for winter ball in Puerto Rico, where his .162/.330/.446 line in 74 at-bats reflected his patience, power potential and inconsistent contact. A gifted athletic specimen with a big, strong frame, Maxwell has a chance for four average or better tools. He's a patient hitter with average to plus power to all fields. In order to become an average hitter, he needs to stay taller in his stance and avoid collapsing on his back leg. He's a long strider with slightly above-average speed that plays up once he's underway. Maxwell is an intelligent baserunner and has a strong work ethic. He projects as an average defender in center field, but he still takes suspect routes from time to time. His arm is below average and eventually could make him a better fit in left. Maxwell looks more like a solid regular than a star, but he could be ready for an everyday role by the second half of 2010.