Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

A relatively unknown commodity who began his college career as a two-way player for the University of British Columbia in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Maier didn't play in 2021 because UBC canceled its season. But he jumped on the prospect map with a strong showing in the Cape Cod League, his first competitive action in over a year, and has scouts in the Pacific Northwest excited because he transferred to Oregon for the 2022 season, though he didn't pitch for the Ducks in the fall.

A former infielder with not a ton of mileage on his arm, Maier isn't the biggest right-hander in the world, but he's strong and athletic. Velocity-wise, his fastball is average, in the 91-94 mph range, perhaps touching 95 mph at times, but it plays up because of good spin rates and his ability to command it. The separator for Maier is a plus slider, thrown in the low-80s, that misses bats routinely with premium spin rates. He also has an above-average changeup, thrown with excellent arm speed and sink.

In small samples, Maier has been showing off a repeatable delivery and the ability to throw strikes. He'll also still only be 20 at Draft time, another check in the plus column. The only thing missing is track record, something he can take care of with a strong spring in the Ducks rotation.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

The Braves bought a $1.2 million lottery ticket when they drafted and signed Maier in the seventh round of the 2022 Draft. The Canadian right-hander started out at the University of British Columbia as a two-way guy but threw just 19 innings before the pandemic hit. The school cancelled its 2021 season, too, although Maier was able to open some eyes with 25 2/3 innings in the Cape Cod League that summer, then transferred to Oregon, where he made just three starts before he partially tore his UCL. He had an internal brace put in rather than have Tommy John surgery, but he's yet to throw a professional pitch, both because of the elbow and also an oblique issue in 2023.

With just over 60 innings of amateur pitching to work from, it's hard to know exactly what Maier might be. He is a strong and athletic six-footer who had thrown his fastball up to 95 mph with good spin and command when he was healthy. His low-80s slider also registered high rpm, a potentially plus pitch that misses bats with good downward break. His sinking changeup gives him a third very effective pitch, thrown with good arm speed.

Maier's athleticism as a former infielder shows on the mound as he repeats his delivery well and should be a solid strike-thrower. The big thing he needs now is time on the mound, as those innings on the Cape represent his highest season total to date. He'll still be just 22 for all of the 2024 season, so there's time, with a healthy year the primary objective.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

It's been an unusual path for Maier, whom the Braves signed to a way-over-slot deal of $1.2 million as a 2022 seventh-round pick. He began his college career as a two-way player at the University of British Columbia, but that was short-lived because of the pandemic-truncated 2020 season and UBC's canceled season in 2021. Scouts were excited by his Cape Cod League performance that summer and were hoping to see more in 2022 when Maier transferred to Oregon, but he suffered a partial tear in his UCL after just three starts. Rather than have Tommy John surgery, Maier had an internal brace put in with an eye toward making his debut in 2023.

Maier has a light pitching resume after being an infielder -- in addition to the missed time -- but the 6-footer is strong and athletic. When he's been healthy, he throws his fastball up to 95 mph with high spin rates and excellent command of the pitch. The right-hander's best offering is his low-80s slider, a plus pitch also with outstanding spin rates that misses bats with good downward break to it. There's a lot of feel for a sinking changeup too, sold with solid arm speed.

When he's been on the mound, Maier's athleticism has been apparent, with the ability to repeat his delivery and fill up the strike zone consistently. The Braves will get their first real look at Maier at some point in 2023, with reps needed more than anything else to get a sense of what he can become.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

A relatively unknown commodity who began his college career as a two-way player for the University of British Columbia in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Maier didn't play in 2021 because UBC canceled its season. But he jumped on the prospect map with a strong showing in the Cape Cod League, his first competitive action in over a year, and scouts in the Pacific Northwest were excited when he transferred to Oregon for the 2022 season. Although he made just three starts before an elbow injury shelved him for the year and led to internal brace stabilization surgery, the Braves saw enough to take him in the seventh round and go well over slot to sign him for nearly $1.2 million.

A former infielder with not a ton of mileage on his arm, Maier isn't the biggest right-hander in the world, but he's strong and athletic. Velocity-wise, his fastball is average, in the 91-94 mph range, perhaps touching 95 mph at times, but it plays up because of good spin rates and his ability to command it. The separator for Maier is a plus slider, thrown in the low-80s, that misses bats routinely with premium spin rates. He also has an above-average changeup, thrown with excellent arm speed and sink.

In small samples, Maier has shown a repeatable delivery and the ability to throw strikes. He was also young for his class, only 20 at Draft time -- another check in the plus column. The only thing missing is a track record, something he'll have to build as a pro once he returns from injury.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	09/25/2024	RHP Adam Maier assigned to Peoria Javelinas.
	09/10/2024	RHP Adam Maier assigned to FCL Braves from Rome Emperors.
	08/02/2024	RHP Adam Maier assigned to Rome Emperors from Augusta GreenJackets.
	04/05/2024	RHP Adam Maier assigned to Augusta GreenJackets from FCL Braves.
	10/09/2022	FCL Braves activated RHP Adam Maier from the 60-day injured list.
	10/09/2022	FCL Braves activated RHP Adam Maier from the 60-day injured list.
	08/10/2022	RHP Adam Maier assigned to FCL Braves.
	07/30/2022	Atlanta Braves signed RHP Adam Maier.
	06/11/2022	College Workout activated RHP Adam Maier.
	06/11/2022	RHP Adam Maier assigned to College Workout.
	09/06/2018	RHP Adam Maier assigned to BC-Orange.