Starter Spotlight: Max Effort

3–30-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X

After a pair of walk-off losses this series, the Pirates will need a bit extra if they want to avoid dropping 3 of 4 to the Marlins. On the other side of the bump, Miami’s starting pitcher will be looking for a much different outcome than the last time he faced the Pirates.

Selected third overall in the 2020 draft, Max Meyer surged through the minor league as he posted a combined 2.27 ERA with 130 strikeouts against 42 walks over 111 innings in AA/AAA ball. He continued that success in 2022 before earning a call-up to Miami on July 16th against the Phillies.

In his second start facing the Pirates, Meyer retired two of the three batters he faced – throwing just ten pitches – before leaving the game with elbow discomfort, eventually needing Tommy John surgery and missing the remainder of 2022 as well as the entire 2023 campaign.

Meyer split 2024 between Miami and the minors as he worked his way back through recovery and posting mixed results as he allowed 64 earned runs across 115 innings with 115 strikeouts but 43 walks and 23 home runs allowed.

That said, Meyer looked more locked in this spring. Over 5 starts, he gave up just 5 earned runs across 14 innings pitched with 2 walks and 11 strikeouts after making some changes within his pitch mix.

Max Meyer added 2 new pitches (Sweeper and Sinker), reshaped his fastball and changeup, had an uptick in fastball and slider velo, AND decreased his release height. He's a new pitcher, and is finally looking like the pitcher that was promised in 2020 pic.twitter.com/8hRBBfGwBk

— MDV (@Mardevicre) March 25, 2025

Meyer works pretty evenly with his mid-90s fastball up in the zone and low-90s slider dropping down and under the zone – comprising 81% of his total pitches last season.

He has broken that down a bit, adding a sweeper that drops in velocity from the slider to 86-87 range and potentially leaning more on his high-80s changeup and mid-90s sinker, which helped contribute to his excellent 50.6% ground ball rate in 2024.

Opposing hitters batted .330 against Meyer’s 4-seamer and slugged .648 against the offering, both the highest among any of his pitches so change would be necessary for it to not be just a “show” pitch going forward.

If he can build in deception between these pitches, changing speeds to keep hitters off the fastball, he will be VERY difficult to hit but if not, Bucs need to look for the heater early and often.