'Big Sugar' turning heads with nasty stuff in live BP sessions

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GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- When you're listed as 6-foot-6 and 275 pounds like Reds relief pitcher prospect Zach Maxwell, odds are your nickname will come with the word, "Big."

Frank Thomas was "The Big Hurt." Randy Johnson was "The Big Unit." Slugger Jhonkensy Noel of the Guardians is called "Big Christmas." For Maxwell, who was ranked by MLB Pipeline last season as Cincinnati's No. 20 prospect in 2024, his nickname is stitched into both of his gloves.

Say hello to "Big Sugar."

"It was on an ACC Network call in college. I was pitching [for Georgia Tech] against Louisville and I got a couple of outs in a big situation," Maxwell explained on Thursday. "This guy on the radio [called me] 'a big hunk of sugar' as I walked off the mound. Apparently that got run with and we lost the middle part. When I joined the Reds, I was asked if I had a nickname. I said it was ‘Big Sugar,’ and everybody just ran with it. You should embrace it. There’s been worse nicknames.”

Maxwell's father, Tom, is 6-foot-11 and a former college basketball player at Idaho State. His brother is 13 and already standing at six feet.

On Wednesday during live batting practice, Maxwell's big mound presence gave Reds hitters a difficult time. He struck out three batters with sliders, including Matt McLain. McLain was looking for a high fastball but got a breaking ball that was down.

"It was nasty. I shouldn't have swung," McLain said.

Maxwell, 24, is a non-roster invite at Spring Training for the second year. He was a sixth-round selection in the 2022 Draft.

“I faced pretty good hitters yesterday and got what I needed to get done," Maxwell said. "I didn’t throw the fastball for a strike as much but still ended up with three strikeouts. It means my other stuff was working well.”

A fastball-slider right-handed pitcher, Maxwell has developed a cutter for a third pitch.

“I think it’s going to help kind of throw more jabs at lefties, getting in on lefties a little bit more," he said. "If I can start running that thing up on their hands as I did yesterday, it made them uncomfortable a little bit."

Manager Terry Francona was among those watching Maxwell's session, his second of the spring.

“I thought it was pretty fun to watch," Francona said. "He’s a really interesting kid. A big, big, big arm. It’s funny with guys like that. … Maybe their numbers aren’t just blowing you away because maybe they’re not commanding yet like they need to pitch here. But as they learn to do that and it clicks, all of a sudden you’re looking at guys that can pitch towards the back of the game."

Command has been an issue for Maxwell since college, but it has improved the past couple of seasons. In 14 appearances at Double-A Louisville last season, he had a 1.23 ERA with 5.5 walks per nine innings and averaging 16.6 strikeouts per nine innings.

At Triple-A Louisville, Maxwell had a 3.89 ERA over 39 games. His walk rate ticked up to 6.6 and his strikeout rate dipped to a still strong 13.3 per nine innings.

“The challenge was good," Maxwell said. "You don’t want it to be too easy because you don’t feel like you can get any better. Adversity makes you better. … The summer was a little tough with the adjustment. You went from no [automated balls and strikes] to having the ABS in Triple-A. Hitters are more advanced, better eyes, better scouting, better approaches and you take what you’ve got. You just have to put together a better plan. That’s what I did.”

News and notes

• Cincinnati's No. 2 prospect (and the No. 35 overall, per MLB Pipeline), rotation candidate Rhett Lowder (right elbow) has resumed throwing after being shut down last month with discomfort. “He feels really good. He’s really excited about where he is," Francona said.

• Francona said that infielder Spencer Steer (right shoulder) should begin throwing soon. Steer will be limited to designated hitter duties in the early Cactus League games.

• With Saturday's exhibition opener a split-squad day, Francona opted to manage the road game vs. the Brewers rather than the home game vs. his former club, the Guardians. Same for coaches Brad Mills and Chris Valaika, who were formerly with Cleveland. Bench coach Freddie Benavides will manage that game.

  "You know what? These games need to be about the players," Francona said. "It’s just not the right time to have a hugfest. I want these guys to know how important they are. I’m a Red. I’m going to Maryvale. Millsy is going to Maryvale. Valaika is going to Maryvale. We need these guys to know we’re invested in what we’re doing here.”