The 2021 MLB Draft will take place on July 11th in Denver, Colorado. In this profile, we take a look at Maddux Bruns, MLB.com’s 49th-ranked prospect out of UMS-Wright in Alabama.
Make sure to check out all of our other MLB Draft Profiles.
Maddux Bruns, LHP, UMS-Wright (AL)
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 205 lbs
Age: 19
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Scouting Grades
Fastball: 60
Slider: 60
Curveball: 55
Changeup: 50
Control: 40
Bruns was named Alabama’s Gatorade High School Player of the Year last year and was named to three Perfect Game Preseason All-American Teams in 2019, 2020, and 2021. He is also a Mississippi State verbal commit. Should he choose to attend Mississippi State, he will next be eligible for the 2023 Draft, after his sophomore year.
Strengths
Bruns had a breakout performance at the Perfect Game National Showcase where he was able to show off his fastball, which by far has been the strongest pitch in his arsenal. He will usually get it to hit somewhere in the mid-90s, as far as speed, with it topping out at 98 mph. His second-best pitch is his slider, which can reach 83-85 mph. The biggest asset of the slider is the tilt on the ball that Bruns is able to produce with the pitch. His curveball is also good as far as the spin of the ball.
Looking at Bruns’ delivery, his biggest asset is that he is able to use his big frame to give it a very nice high arm slot. This is a good tool to have to help him with his fastball especially as it helps to give him more of a downhill plane. He also is able to stay on top of his breaking balls with his delivery. His changeup is also a good pitch, hitting in the 80s, but he rarely throws it in games.
Weaknesses
Bruns’ biggest problem is his control. There have been multiple occurrences where he has innings that roll over during his time in high school and at tournaments and other events. Even with the previously mentioned arm slot on his delivery, for whatever reason, there are times where he doesn’t look comfortable on the mound. Whenever he is having control issues, more specifically struggling to throw strikes, it causes him to hold back on some of his pitches, specifically his fastball. While his aforementioned curveball does look as though it could be a great third pitch for him, currently he doesn’t trust it enough to throw consistently, causing it to usually clock in the mid-70s.
Pro Comparison: Riley Smith
There was a couple of things to take into account when looking for a comparison for Bruns. Where he could fit in a rotation, and the control/walk issues. Enter Riley Smith of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Not only do they have similar builds, with Smith coming in at 6’1″ and 207 lbs, but they have similar issues with their ability to finish up innings. In Smith’s last outing, he threw 60 pitches before being pulled in the third inning. Smith functions as a bit of a long reliever for the Diamondbacks, which is a position that Bruns could find himself in once he reaches the majors. Smith has also had some walk issues in his short time in the majors, which could very well continue to be an issue for Bruns on his journey.
Draft Projection: Late Fourth Round
There are certainly some things that will scare teams away from drafting Bruns. The control issues and not trusting some of his pitches are certainly huge risks for the team that decides to draft him. Bruns will certainly be the epitome of a risk-reward pick, with some scouts believing he can be a part of the rotation and some believing that he is destined for a reliever role where he wouldn’t be trusted in high leverage situation. However, with his fastball and his strong secondary pitches, he does have great stuff and poses an intriguing prospect for any team that takes a chance on him. Bruns could fall back later in this draft if teams are overly cautious about his role, but he shouldn’t slide farther than late in the fourth round.
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Main Image Credit: AL.com
