Maxwell Made Quite an Impression on the Nationals

MAJOR BLOGS - www.majorblogs.net - NASHVILLE, TENN. Prior to the 2007 season, Justin Maxwell was an obsure farm hand.  Nobody doubted his tools, but his insipid statistical line in 2006 and a plethora of injuries in his past put him in the long-shot category.  Entering the season,  he had accumlated 58 at-bats above rookie ball.

Clear of injury setbacks in 2007, Maxwell made an improbable  journey from low Single-A all the way to the Washington Nationals big league roster in September.  His callup occurred after the 6-foot-5, 225 pound center fielder challenged for a 30-30 season in the minors.  He batted .281 with 27 home runs and 35 stolen bases between Single-A clubs Hagerstown and Potomac.     

Maxwell left an impression on Nationals fans during a 26 at-bat stint, that included a pinch-hit grand slam and a critical round-tripper off future Hall of Famer Tom Glavine.  At the time, Glavine and his New York Mets were fighting for the National League East title.  "Quite impresive for a kid that started the year in Low-A",   said Washington Nationals manager Manny Acta at the Baseball Winter Meetings.  "He played well for us, especially at the end. We played him against two teams (Phillies) that were battling for a playoff spot, and he played well."

The success earned Maxwell a trip to the Arizona Fall League.  It was quite a reward since the AFL is devoid of lower level prospects.  There's an AFL rule that allows teams to send only one lower-level player (pre-September 1 status) in their allotment of seven assignments.  Maxwell was overmatched hitting .207 in the AFL, but he showed off his seasoned basestealing skills as he was successful on 15-of-16 attempts. 

Minor league baseball fans will get to see plenty of Maxwell in 2008.  The former Maryland Terapin will be sent to the Double-A Harrisburg Senators of the Eastern League to put his five-tool talent on display.  "He's got tremendous makeup", says Acta.  "He's a very sharp kid."