Dodgers select prep LHP Maddux Bruns with 29th pick in 2021 MLB Draft

It was a pretty wild first round of the 2021 MLB Draft, and the Dodgers came away with a new prospect (provided he signs). They selected prep left-handed pitcher Maddux Bruns out of UMS-Wright Prep HS in Alabama, with the 29th overall pick to end the first round. And yes, he’s named after all-time Dodger great Greg Maddux.

Bruns, 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, is a guy who made the tail end of my Big Board a couple times, but he wasn’t a surefire 1st-round selection by any means. The 19-year-old has not just one of the best left-handed fastballs in the class, but one of the best fastballs, period. He can top out in the high-90s, but seems to be more effective when he takes a little bit off. He has trouble commanding the higher velocity fastball, but the arm talent is apparent. He pairs his heater with two breaking pitches that have flashed plus — a curveball and slider. His curveball is a mid-70s 12-6 downer, while his slider is a late-biting slider in the 83-85 MPH range. Sound like anyone you might have watched for the last 14 years? Yes, it sounds similar to Clayton Kershaw (whom he models his game after), but this is in no way a comparison. He said he also looks up to the Braves’ Max Fried.

Rankings
The Athletic: 49
Baseball America: 49
Baseball Prospectus: NR
CBS Sports: NR
ESPN: 96
FanGraphs: 47
MLB Pipeline: 49
Perfect Game: 59
Prospects Live: 65

Public rankings differ greatly from internal, team rankings, so don’t put a ton of stock into these. The general consensus is that he was overdrafted. Of course, the Dodgers don’t have a 2nd-round pick this year and there was almost no chance of him making it to the end of the third round, so Billy Gasparino liked him well enough to pull the trigger here.

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Here’s what those in the know are saying about him and the selection.

29. Dodgers: Maddux Bruns, LHP, MS HS. Good sized prep lefty with huge stuff, into mid-90’s with flashes of plus slider and good CB, threw a lot more strikes this spring than he did on the circuit, extremely high-end stuff at times. #PGDraft

— Brian Sakowski (@Sakowski_GoDuke) July 12, 2021

https://twitter.com/ZackMatt4/status/1414410675397529605

#Dodgers Maddux Bruns has an enticing FB/CB combo that has a ton of bat-missing qualities to it. Control has been issue over the past year. Fell just outside of my top 50 https://t.co/9CCB7wpwbM

— Keanan Lamb (@keananlamb) July 12, 2021

Pick: 29
Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
Player: Maddux Bruns, LHP
From: UMS Wright (AL)

Low to mid-90s FB with good plane and life. CB flashes plus w./ good depth. Also mixes in a SL/CT and CH, both need more consistency, as does CMD/CTL.#MLBDraft #Dodgers

— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) July 12, 2021

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And some video.

Maddux Bruns Dodger. pic.twitter.com/45fosWve7r

— ⭐️ (@BoltUpDerwin) July 12, 2021

https://twitter.com/brookme3/status/1414410929446395907

#Dodgers go with a very high risk/reward pick in prep lefty Maddux Bruns

– Touched 97 in the Perfect Game National showcase last June
– Displays 2 good breaking balls (curveball, slider) and a changeup he doesn’t throw much pic.twitter.com/8C93BIISiZ

— Jack (@MidWestLAFan) July 12, 2021

Maddux Bruns LHP (@HailStateBB commit), one of the top lefty arms in the class. Showing 91mph with effective movement for a K to end his inning here. FB sat 91-93mph, hard breaking SL in the mid-80s & a nice CRV low 70s. Another favorite southpaw.#PGAAC recap via @MMarino31 pic.twitter.com/Ywmf1bJNds

— Prospects Live (@ProspectsLive) September 5, 2020

Not our top prep arm in the class, but a ton to love in Saraland, AL southpaw Maddux Bruns.

Big, sturdy 6-2, 210lb frame. Generally 93-96, has touched 97. Power mid-80s slider with big vertical tilt @ 2800rpms. Also has slower CB+CH. Strong, clean operation with sturdy lead leg. pic.twitter.com/e6utp5LjMU

— Joe Doyle (@JoeDoyleMiLB) July 10, 2020

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Bruns is committed to Mississippi State University — the reigning NCAA champions. The last time they drafted an older prep pitcher committed to the Bulldogs, it was J.T. Ginn, and we all know how that ended. I’m not saying it’s going to happen again, but it’s probably going to take almost all of the $2,424,600 of the slot-recommended amount to get him to forego that commitment.

Overall, I like the selection. He definitely has a higher ceiling than some of the other guys I had on my board.