Each year at 213 we look through the Non-Roster Invitees to spring training and get to know them a bit. Are they in camp to get a look at big league hitting/pitching to aid their development? Are the Mets just trying to get a better look at a future rookie? Are they a veteran trying to get back to the major league level? What can we expect from them this season?
With the roster crunch / trade of Ali Sanchez – Bruce Maxwell becomes much important on the Mets. The Mets currently are carrying only 3 catchers on the 40-man roster, if something happens to a catcher, Maxwell is now the next catcher up.
The former Athletic was drafted in the 2nd round in 2012 and became a free agent in 2018. He was signed to the Mets 60-man camp late last July. Maxwell became Nationally known when he became the first MLB player in 2017 to kneel during the National Anthem.
Bruce’s best season was his rookie season where he hit .283/.337/.402 over 101 PA’s. Overall in his career he has hit .240/.314/.347. In 2019, when no baseball team would sign him, he then went to Mexican league and had a good amount of success hitting .325/.407/.559 over 487 PA’s. Most recently he played in the Dominican Winter League and hit .113/.172/.132 over 58 PA’s.
Because the Mets traded away Ali Sanchez in a roster move, Bruce’s spring becomes much more important. There are not a lot of players between him and the 40-man roster. So we’ll be looking to see how he works with pitchers, and how he hits this month.
Before we go – one parting fact: Bruce Maxwell actually played in the World Baseball Classic for Team Germany.
