Justin Maxwell
Encyclopedia
Justin Adam Maxwell is a Major League Baseball
outfielder
for the New York Yankees
organization.
in the 43rd round (1279th overall) of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
, but opted instead to attend college at University of Maryland
. He was drafted
, again, in by the Texas Rangers
in the 10th round (291st overall), but declined, and the following year
by the Washington Nationals
in the 4th round (114th overall). He signed and played most of for the Vermont Lake Monsters
, the Nationals Short-Season A team.
, and High-A Potomac
, where, he combined to hit
.281 with 27 home run
s, 83 RBI
and 35 stolen base
s, the only player in Minor League Baseball to record at least 25 doubles
, 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases in 2007."
After the minor league season was over, he was brought up to the Nationals, just to get a taste of the big leagues, and "was told not to expect much from his first month in the majors." On September 5, he made his debut, as pinch hitter
, and flew out to the warning track. Six days later, in his third pinch hitting appearance, Maxwell recorded his first career base hit, a pinch-hit grand slam
off an 0–2 pitch from Chris Seddon
, of the Florida Marlins
.
During the 2007– off-season, Maxwell played for the Peoria Javelinas
in the Arizona Fall League
.
of the Double-A Eastern League after hitting .280 in 13 spring training
games for Washington, but missed most of the year with a fractured wrist suffered while diving for a flyball in the outfield.
. On September 30, Maxwell hit a two-out full count walk off grand slam
off of Francisco Rodriguez of the New York Mets
on Fan Appreciation Day, the Nationals'
last home game of the season.
of the Atlanta Braves
giving him three grand slams in four career at bats with the bases loaded. In September, Maxwell sat out two games with a minor thumb injury suffered on September 18. He returned September 21 against the Houston Astros
. Maxwell underwent Tommy John surgery
after the season.
for minor league pitcher Adam Olbrychowski. Maxwell began the 2011 season with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, but his season ended prematurely due to a torn labrum.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
organization.
Early years
Maxwell was drafted out of Sherwood High School by the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
in the 43rd round (1279th overall) of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
2001 Major League Baseball Draft
-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Selections:-Background:The Minnesota Twins selected St. Paul, MN native Joe Mauer with the number one pick in the 2001 draft. The 18-year-old Mauer, a catcher from Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, became the seventh Minnesotan to be...
, but opted instead to attend college at University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
. He was drafted
2004 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
, again, in by the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
in the 10th round (291st overall), but declined, and the following year
2005 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
by the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
in the 4th round (114th overall). He signed and played most of for the Vermont Lake Monsters
Vermont Lake Monsters
The Vermont Lake Monsters are a minor league baseball team in the Short-Season A classification New York - Penn League, affiliated with the Oakland Athletics. The team plays its home games at Centennial Field on the University of Vermont campus in Burlington, Vermont...
, the Nationals Short-Season A team.
2007
In , he split his time between Low-A HagerstownHagerstown Suns
The Hagerstown Suns are a Minor League Baseball team based in Hagerstown, Maryland, United States. They play in Municipal Stadium, which was opened in 1930 and seats 4,600 fans....
, and High-A Potomac
Potomac Nationals
The Potomac Nationals are a Minor League Baseball team located in Woodbridge, Virginia. The Nationals play in the Class A Advanced Carolina League, and are an affiliate of the Washington Nationals.-History:...
, where, he combined to hit
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.281 with 27 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, 83 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
and 35 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s, the only player in Minor League Baseball to record at least 25 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases in 2007."
After the minor league season was over, he was brought up to the Nationals, just to get a taste of the big leagues, and "was told not to expect much from his first month in the majors." On September 5, he made his debut, as pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
, and flew out to the warning track. Six days later, in his third pinch hitting appearance, Maxwell recorded his first career base hit, a pinch-hit grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
off an 0–2 pitch from Chris Seddon
Chris Seddon
Christopher Jon "Chris" Seddon is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently with the Seattle Mariners organization. Over his career, Seddon has played nine seasons in professional baseball, including parts of two in Major League Baseball...
, of the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
.
During the 2007– off-season, Maxwell played for the Peoria Javelinas
Peoria Javelinas
The Peoria Javelinas, established in 1992, are a baseball team that plays in the West Division of the Arizona Fall League. The Javelinas play their home games in the Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona, which is a spring training site for both the San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners.For...
in the Arizona Fall League
Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States at five spring training complexes...
.
2008
Maxwell was assigned to the Harrisburg SenatorsHarrisburg Senators
The Harrisburg Senators are a minor league baseball team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals....
of the Double-A Eastern League after hitting .280 in 13 spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
games for Washington, but missed most of the year with a fractured wrist suffered while diving for a flyball in the outfield.
2009
Maxwell spent most of the season with the AAA Syracuse Chiefs of the International League. He was called up late in the season because of injured center fielder Nyjer MorganNyjer Morgan
Nyjer Jamid Morgan nicknamed Tony Plush is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Milwaukee Brewers....
. On September 30, Maxwell hit a two-out full count walk off grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
off of Francisco Rodriguez of the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
on Fan Appreciation Day, the Nationals'
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
last home game of the season.
2010
Maxwell split time with the AAA Syracuse Chiefs of the International League and the Nationals. On September 15, Maxwell hit a grand slam in the 2nd inning off of Mike MinorMike Minor (Baseball)
-External links:*****...
of the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
giving him three grand slams in four career at bats with the bases loaded. In September, Maxwell sat out two games with a minor thumb injury suffered on September 18. He returned September 21 against the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. Maxwell underwent Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
after the season.
2011
On February 2, 2011 the Nationals traded Maxwell to the New York YankeesNew York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
for minor league pitcher Adam Olbrychowski. Maxwell began the 2011 season with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, but his season ended prematurely due to a torn labrum.