Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 60 | Control: 35 | Overall: 40

One of the harder-throwing pitchers in the 2021 international class, Maldonado touched 92 mph before signing for $145,600 out of Venezuela as a 17-year-old. He touched 97 mph during his U.S. debut the following year and 99 when he advanced to full-season ball in 2023. He blew out his elbow that July and had Tommy John surgery in December that sidelined him for all of 2024, but returned to reach 101 mph in Single-A last season.

Now that he has regained his health, Maldonado sits at 96-99 mph with high spin rates, late hop and some armside run on his fastball. He didn't dominate Single-A hitters with his heater, however, as they slashed .261/.404/.326 against it in 2025. They had much more trouble handling his 82-85 mph slider, which features formidable sweep.

Though he has been a starter to this point, Maldonado is a two-pitch guy who projects as a reliever, possibly a closer if he can learn to harness his stuff. He has a compact arm action that hides the ball from batters, but he has trouble keeping his mechanics in sync and logged a 16 percent walk rate last year. He carries at least 50 pounds more than his listed 170 and will have to watch his conditioning.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 40 | Overall: 40 

Maldonado flashed a low-90s fastball when he signed for $145,600 out of Venezuela in 2021 and pushed it as high as 97 mph during his U.S. debut the following year. He reached 99 mph when he reached full-season ball in 2023 but blew out his elbow in late July and had Tommy John surgery in December. After rehabbing all of last year, he'll be ready to return to the mound at the beginning of this season. 

Before he got hurt, Maldonado was sitting at 95-97 mph with late hop and some armside run on his fastball. His 82-85 mph slider was more unhittable, generating a 54 percent swing-and-miss rate against Single-A hitters. He didn't show much feel for his fading upper-80s changeup, which was too firm and rarely found the strike zone. 

Maldonado's compact arm action hides the ball from hitters, making him even tougher to hit. He needs time to figure out his control and command and very well could end up in the bullpen, but he'd have closer upside if he does. At least 50 pounds heavier than his listed weight of 170, he'll have to stay on top of his conditioning. 

Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 40 | Overall: 40

Maldonado already was pushing his fastball into the low 90s as a 17-year-old when he signed for $145,600 out of Venezuela in January 2021. He gained more velocity after turning pro, reaching 97 mph in his U.S. debut the following year and topping out at 99 when he made the jump to full-season ball in 2023. He blew out late in the summer, however, and had Tommy John surgery last December that has sidelined him for all of this season.

Maldonado's quick arm produces fastballs that park at 95-97 mph with late hop, and they're almost unhittable when he works up in the zone with carry. He complements his heater with a hard 82-85 mph slurve that wipes out right-handers when at its best. He has yet to show much faith in his upper-80s changeup, which has some fade but is too firm.

With a compact arm action, Maldonado hides the ball from hitters. He's still very much a long-term project who has yet to figure out a third pitch or control and command. Even if he becomes a reliever rather than a starter, he'd have closer upside assuming a full return to health.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 40 | Overall: 45

Maldonado already was reaching the low 90s at age 17 when he signed for $145,600 out of Venezuela in January 2021, and he continues to add more and more velocity as he gains strength and experience. He reached 97 mph in his U.S. debut last summer and has touched 99 while making the jump to full-season ball in 2023.  

Maldonado isn't especially physical but has a quick arm that consistently produces 95-97 fastballs with late life, and they can be unhittable when he works up in the strike zone. He backs up his heater with a hard three-quarters breaking ball that parks at 82-85 mph and can destroy right-handers when it's on. He doesn't show much trust in his changeup, which features some fade but needs more velocity separation from his fastball. 

His compact arm action hides the ball from hitters, making Maldonado even tougher to hit. He's still more thrower than pitcher at this point, trying to figure out control and command. But few teenagers can match his arm strength, and even if he winds up a reliever rather than a starter in the long run, he'd have closer upside.

Awards

ACL Pitcher of the Month

Month	Team
08/2022

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	04/03/2026	RHP Gerelmi Maldonado assigned to Eugene Emeralds from San Jose Giants.
	03/07/2026	RHP Gerelmi Maldonado assigned to San Francisco Giants.
	03/05/2026	RHP Gerelmi Maldonado assigned to San Francisco Giants Prospects.
	03/06/2025	activated RHP Gerelmi Maldonado.
	11/03/2024	San Jose Giants activated RHP Gerelmi Maldonado from the full-season injured list.
	03/20/2024	San Jose Giants placed RHP Gerelmi Maldonado on the full-season injured list.
	11/06/2023	San Jose Giants activated RHP Gerelmi Maldonado from the 60-day injured list.
	08/15/2023	San Jose Giants transferred RHP Gerelmi Maldonado from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
	08/11/2023	San Jose Giants placed RHP Gerelmi Maldonado on the 7-day injured list.
	04/05/2023	RHP Gerelmi Maldonado assigned to San Jose Giants from ACL Giants Orange.
	06/06/2022	RHP Gerelmi Maldonado assigned to ACL Giants Orange.
	07/12/2021	RHP Gerelmi Maldonado and assigned to DSL Giants Black.
	07/12/2021	RHP Gerelmi Maldonado assigned to DSL Giants2 from DSL Giants1.
	01/15/2021	San Francisco Giants signed free agent RHP Gerelmi Maldonado to a minor league contract.
	01/15/2021	P Gerelmi Maldonado assigned to DSL Giants1 .