# @redsdaily on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DZaeaSjIO7B
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/67002436-redsdaily-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/121e9ea6d4.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-06-10T17:25:32.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Reds Daily (@RedsDaily) — https://gondola.cc/RedsDaily

## Caption

Zachary Thomas Maxwell was born January 26, 2001, in Nashville, Tennessee, and grew up in Dallas, Georgia.

At North Paulding High School he ran his fastball up to 98 mph, threw a no-hitter as a senior in 2019, and turned down the Yankees as a 30th-round pick (thank god) to attend Georgia Tech (sorry C. Trent 😂)

He averaged nearly a walk per inning in college, lost his rotation spot a month into 2022, then struck out 11 over six innings against top-ranked Tennessee in the NCAA regionals.

The Reds were very smart and drafted the 6-foot-6, 275-pound right-hander (nicknamed Big Sugar) in the sixth round of the 2022 draft, 183rd overall.

Across 143 minor league games from 2022 to 2025 he posted a 3.86 ERA with 250 strikeouts in 172.1 innings (a strikeout rate north of 13 per nine btw)

In 2024 he led all Reds minor leaguers with 53 appearances, going 7-2 with a 3.17 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 54 innings, hitting 102.5 mph on a game-ending strikeout in August.

He opened 2025 at Triple-A Louisville with a 4.17 ERA, 59 strikeouts, and five saves over 49.2 innings before Cincinnati selected his contract on August 22.

He debuted August 23, 2025, in Arizona with five strikeouts in two innings as just the fifth Reds reliever in 125 years to fan five in his first game.

He struck out nine across his first three outings and closed his rookie stint with 13 strikeouts in 10 innings.

The stuff is what makes him elite: a fastball averaging 99-100 mph and touching 102, spun at 2,500-2,700 rpm with elite carry from an extreme over-the-top slot that creates one of the game’s highest release points.

In the top third of the zone, hitters miss on roughly 40 percent of swings, and his 87-89 mph cutter/slider hybrid grades as a plus-plus second pitch.

The scouting grades tell the story: 70 fastball, 70 slider, 30 control: closer-caliber weapons gated only by command.

He’s an overpowering pitcher and an awesome personality that the Reds organization is lucky to have.

Congrats on the first save Zach, many more to come 🔥

(video: aidenprodz1944 T/t)

#reds #cincinnatireds #atobttr #redsnation #cincinnati

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atobttr, cincinnati, cincinnatireds, redsnation, reds

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