Maurer as a teen was not a fireballer. He threw high 80s as I recall - the 2008 draft tracker doesn't even have a summary on him. As I said in that article before Maurer ever played in a big-league game, he was a high school teammate of Gerrit Cole but was believed to be the far lesser prospect. Cole could light up a gun even then. That was before Maurer grew into his body and began throwing 98 MPH.
Maurer is busy converting his approach from "lesser-prospect-nibbling" to "big-league-swagger." Last year he was trying to trick opposing players, pitching backwards, throwing the fastball to the black and getting stiffed on the call...
And it wasn't just that he didn't think he belonged - he pitched that way in the minors. He came up through the system as a guy with a decent fastball, 4 pitches, and the ability to hit spots when necessary and out-think the hitters. The heat didn't come til he got finally healthy and it's been climbing ever since. Last year in his first brush with the pros he out-thought himself.
As far as I can tell, the advice he was given after that stint was, "your stuff is great, stop doubting it." His walks basically doubled (he was at 2.7 BB/9 for his career, and they went up over 5 in AAA) partly because he's throwing his yakker and umps won't call it for a strike. Consider it James Paxton syndrome, and it messed up his ERA in the minors too. He's also plowing people down with his fastball - his Ks skyrocketed to over 9 per 9 last year from a more-pedestrian 7.5 in AA, and he has DOUBLED that to 18 K/9 out of the pen this year.
Maybe that means he should be a closer. Maybe he's just working out the kinks as he returns from a back tweak in Spring Training.
Maurer should have a very nice career in the pen if he can't start, but right now, at still 23 years of age, I absolutely want him starting. When you watch a pitcher's Ks and walks balloon together, it usually means he's trying new things. When that same pitcher has had fine control the rest of his career, it normally means the Ks might stay but the walks will subside.
I'm still VERY high on Maurer, his 6+ ERA from last year aside. He doesn't have Noesi's head problems, and has better stuff besides. He's just a baby on the mound who needs a better approach... and may be finding one as we speak.
Hopefully we'll see a successful start to it this weekend in Florida.
~G
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