Maddux Bruns is a hard-throwing left-handed pitcher who recently graduated from UMS-Wright Preparatory School in Mobile, Alabama. The six-foot-two 210-pound pitcher will be 19 years of age at the time of the draft. Bruns is a flame thrower who also has two plus breaking balls that translate into strikeouts. From 2018-2020, Maddux struck out 41 batters in 21 2/3 innings while pitching to an ERA of 0.60. His fastball saw an increase of seven miles per hour since 2018. Maddux has committed to play baseball for Mississippi State University if he decides not to turn pro this season. MLB ranks Maddux Bruns as number 49 on its draft board at the time of writing.
Strengths
Maddux Bruns is able to throw very hard for a man his age. He is already throwing pitches in the mid-nineties with ease and has been clocked as high as 97 MPH on the radar gun. Bruns couples his heat with a low-to-mid 80s swing-and-miss slider. Both pitches combine to change speeds and fool hitters. But Maddux also has a lollipop curveball that should continue to improve with development. The fastball and slider both rate at 60 out of 80 on his scouting report, which is great. The curveball rates slightly lower at 55, which is still good. To add to the mix of spin and heat, Maddux also has a change-up that scouts rate at 50. With some more development, whether at Mississippi State or in the pros, all four pitches figure to strike out a lot of batters in the future.
Weaknesses
With four good pitches and a cannon for an arm, Maddux Bruns has control issues. The scouting report lists Maddux’s control as only 40 out of a possible range between 20 and 80. This is the main reason that he is not higher on the projected draft boards. In four and two-thirds innings during the summer circuit of 2020, Bruns struck out nine batters but also walked eight. From 2018-2020, Maddux walked 35 batters in 21 2/3 innings while striking out 41. His WHIP in that time was 1.98.
Control issues are something that tends to make a pitcher seen as high risk. But, with high risk comes the potential for high reward. The question is whether or not Maddux will decide to forego the pros in order to work on his control in college and attempt to increase his draft position later. This would shift some of the risk onto Maddux himself as he would need to perform well in college in order to accomplish the feat.
MLB Comp
Maddux Bruns has similar pitches to Billy Wagner. Wagner was a legendary pitcher, of course, and Bruns has to work on his control issues in order to become great like Wagner. But, both players have a fastball, slider, curveball, and change-up. They both have a fastball velocity that tops out at around 97 MPH. Both have a swing-and-miss slider as a secondary pitch. And Wagner and Bruns both have curveballs and change-ups that they use less than their other two pitches. This is probably where their similarities end, however.
Bruns is four inches taller and weighs more than Wagner did. Wagner was a closer throughout almost all of his career, with the bulk of it being played for the Houston Astros, and Bruns projects to be a starter if he can reign in his command. Although, it is not out of the question for Bruns to end up as a closer at some point in his professional career. If he continues to have control issues, a pitching coach may decide to have him focus more on his fastball and slider control, with the curveball as more of a fallback option. This would make him more likely to end up as a closer like Billy Wagner. Either way, this young fireballer needs to develop control in order to play well in the majors.
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