Cincinnati Reds rookie Zach Maxwell struck out 5 in his MLB debut, flashing 100-mph velocity. He allowed a home run for his only run in 2 innings.
PHOENIX – Zach Maxwell said he was a little nervous on his first day in the big leagues.
But the Cincinnati Reds' latest 100-mph-pitching prospect didn't look nervous in his MLB debut the next night against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
With the Reds trailing 7-0 in the fifth inning after All-Star starter Andrew Abbott struggled, Maxwell was called upon Aug. 23 to pitch two innings.
Along the way the 6-foot-6, 293-pound right-hander they call "Big Sugar" joined four other pitchers in making franchise debut history.
His five strikeouts – including the final two batters he faced to strand a runner at third – made him one of just five Reds relievers in the last 125 years to strike out five in their debuts.
"I didn't know that," Maxwell said. "Is that good?"
The other 5K relief debuts: Tejay Antone against the Cubs in 2020, Ariel Hernandez against the Brewers in 2017, Tony Cingrani against the Astros in 2012 and Angel Torres against the Astros in 1977.
“That was great,” Maxwell said. “You kind of black out when you get out there. But that was a good time.”
He had a lot of family and friends on hand, including his dad and brother, and visited with them after the game before returning to the clubhouse.
“It’s like a full-circle moment, what they’ve given for me to be in this position,” he said, “coming to fruition and them being pumped for it.”
The only run he allowed in the 10-1 loss came on a two-out home run by Blaze Alexander in the fifth.
“I wish we were up by eight instead of down,” said Francona, who said he was cognizant of stretching Maxwell to his high of 35 pitches.
“I thought he threw the ball pretty good for the most part. The home run, I didn’t even really (think about it). He probably supplied that power.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How Zach 'Big Sugar' Maxwell made franchise in Cincinnati Reds debut
Category: Baseball
