From a preseason standpoint, the main question surrounding Maier was whether or not the former Oregon Duck was going to pitch in 2023. Rather than undergoing a traditional Tommy John Surgery, Maier opted to go with the internal bracing of his UCL, which often results in a quicker recovery time. This is a surgery that we traditionally see non-pitchers get, but it is becoming a bit of a trendy option for pitchers who want to get back on the mound quicker. As a result, there was some hope that the Braves would be able to get some early returns on the investment that they made in Maier, as his potential fastball-slider mix continues to intrigue.
Maier's 2024 outlook is up in the air. We should expect him to start in A-ball, but what his role will look like is unclear. Because he has hardly pitched over the past few seasons, there is a chance the Braves handle him with kid gloves and only let him throw around 70 innings. They will probably try him as a starter, but this might look like brief, 1-2 inning starts at first, as they get him ramped up to a regular workload.
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