PBR Future Games Player Spotlight : Max Zdimal

July 29, 2019
Jeff Opalewski
Executive Director

The PBR Future Games is the nation's premier exposure opportunity for players in the grad classes of 2021 & 2022. This will be the second Team Arizona to compete in the event. This year's event will take place July 31-August 3 at the LakePoint Sporting Community in Cartersville, GA. We will be highlighting each player in the days leading up to the event.

Scouting Report

6-12-19 5"11 175 lbs. Uncommitted. Has the look of your classic college pitchability LHP. H3/4 slot, has some deception with the lead arm hiding the baseball. FB was 81-83, played up consistently beating hitters. Arm action is a little long in the back. Showed a 73-76 CH that projects as a future plus offering - excellent arm speed and heavy fading action. Solid CB in mid-upper 70s, had the proper shape but lacked power.

1/27/19 - 5’11 170-pound frame. The LHP pitches from a ¾ slot good with angle and a lively fastball. Arm works well from a long arm swing Throws slightly across body. When the arm stays on time, Zdimal stays down in the zone, where he was more effective. His fastball was 81-83 MPH, which will continue to rise quickly as he gets stronger. Big curveball with a lot of break at 64-66 MPH. Changeup shows good fade out of the same arm slot and arm speed as his fastball

10/14/18 - Lanky 5-foot-11, 165-pound frame. Continues to show the most promise on the mound, but is improving on the offensive side as well. On the mound, displays a clean delivery with a slightly closed front side upon leg lift. Aggressive, high front side and clean arm action from low ¾ slot with angle. Straight fastball sat 80-82 mph, T83. Showed a sweeping curveball at 61-64 mph, and a straight change at 73-76 mph. As a hitter, shows present strength (exit velocity of 86 mph). Has long levers in the swing. Works hard to get on plain and into the slot early. Ran 7.54 60-yard dash. Likely future remains on the mound, but continues to make strides as a position player. Athleticism is a better fit on the mound and arm is best tool.

6/6/18 - 5-foot-11, 155-pound frame. Projectable body, room to fill out. Zdimal also showed some hitting ability at an event last fall, but missed the spring with injury and elected only to pitch on this day, shaking off the rust to touch 83 mph with his fastball from the left side. Occasionally cut the ball to glove side. Full extension arm swing before driving into scap retraction. High ¾ release, downhill plane. Interesting front leg mechanics. Knee rapidly rebounded in and out of hyperextension around the time of ball release. Curveball was thrown at 61-64 mph. Changed showed varying movement at 70-71 mph. Developing secondary will be key. Interesting follow given the present velocity and projectability.

12/10/17 - 5-foot-9, 155-pound frame. Looks bigger than listed size. Two-way prospect impressed as a hitter and on the mound establishing himself as one of the top 2021 follows in Arizona. Offensively, showed off excellent bat speed with some loft, despite a somewhat crude swing, Zdimal posted the second highest exit velocity at the event (85 mph). With a slight arm bar and deep hand load, Zdimal keeps the barrel in the zone for a long time and made lots of loud contact to the pull side. On the mound the young lefty reached 83 mph with some effort, also showing off a solid mid-70’s changeup. He shows a high ¾ arm slot and on-line delivery with some head movement through release but generally pounded the zone during his bullpen.