Justin Maxwell

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Justin Maxwell

| image = Justin Maxwell on May 20, 2015.jpg

| image_size = 250

| caption = Maxwell with the San Francisco Giants

| position = Outfielder

| team =

| number =

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1983|11|6}}

| birth_place = Olney, Maryland, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = September 5

| debutyear = 2007

| debutteam = Washington Nationals

|debut2league = KBO

| debut2date = July 19

| debut2year = 2016

| debut2team = Lotte Giants

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate = August 31

|finalyear = 2015

|finalteam = San Francisco Giants

|final2league= KBO

|final2date = August 17

|final2year = 2016

|final2team = Lotte Giants

|statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .220

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 41

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 133

|stat2league = KBO

| stat21label = Batting average

| stat21value = .288

| stat22label = Home runs

| stat22value = 4

| stat23label = Runs batted in

| stat23value = 16

| teams=

Washington Nationals ({{Baseball year|2007}}, {{Baseball year|2009}}–{{Baseball year|2010}})
Houston Astros ({{baseball year|2012}}–{{baseball year|2013}})
Kansas City Royals ({{baseball year|2013}}–{{baseball year|2014}})
San Francisco Giants ({{baseball year|2015}})
Lotte Giants ({{baseball year|2016}})

}}

Justin Adam Maxwell (born November 6, 1983) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Nationals, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, and San Francisco Giants. He also played in the KBO League for the Lotte Giants.

Biography

=Early life=

Maxwell is the son of Austin Maxwell, a US Navy dentist who also served as the "presidential dentist" from 1997 to 2002, providing dental care for US Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, and Vice President Al Gore, and their families.{{cite web|url=http://m.astros.mlb.com/news/article/33301172/|title=Maxwell learned discipline from military father|first=Brian|last=McTaggart|date=15 June 2012|access-date=24 April 2015|work=MLB.com|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304113300/http://m.astros.mlb.com/news/article/33301172/|url-status=dead}} His mother, Kathy, was also a Navy officer. He has one sister. He grew up in Maryland and South Carolina,{{cite web |url=http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Giants-pitching-probables-6217767.php|title=Dream days for Giants outfielder Maxwell|first=John|last=Shea|date=23 April 2015|access-date=23 April 2015|work=San Francisco Chronicle}} and lived in Japan for four years while his father was stationed there.

Maxwell was drafted out of Sherwood High School by the Baltimore Orioles in the 43rd round (1279th overall) of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft, but opted instead to attend college at the University of Maryland. In 2003, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League, was named a league all-star, and returned to the league in 2004 to play for the Cotuit Kettleers.{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/college/summer/stats.asp?Y=2003&T=Bourne_Braves |title=2003 Bourne Braves |publisher=thebaseballcube.com |date= |accessdate=July 20, 2021}}{{cite web|url=http://capecodbaseball.org/news/asgnews/index.html?article_id=535 |title=West All-Star Roster: All-Star Game 2003 |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |access-date=May 6, 2020}}{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/college/summer/stats.asp?Y=2004&T=Cotuit_Kettleers |title=2004 Cotuit Kettleers |publisher=thebaseballcube.com |date= |accessdate=July 20, 2021}} He was drafted, again, in {{Baseball year|2004}} by the Texas Rangers in the 10th round (291st overall), but declined, and the following year by the Washington Nationals in the 4th round (114th overall). He signed and played most of {{Baseball year|2006}} for the Vermont Lake Monsters, the Nationals Short-Season A team.

=Professional career=

==Washington Nationals==

In {{Baseball year|2007}}, he split his time between Low-A Hagerstown, and High-A Potomac, where, he combined to hit .281 with 27 home runs, 83 RBI and 35 stolen bases, the only player in Minor League Baseball to record at least 25 doubles, 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases in 2007."{{cite news | title=Detwiler, others on fast track to DC: Lefty will be third Nats pick to make MLB debut in draft year | date=September 3, 2007 | work=MLB.com | url=http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070903&content_id=2186539&vkey=news_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was | access-date=September 7, 2007 | archive-date=April 13, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080413114324/http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070903&content_id=2186539&vkey=news_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was | url-status=dead }}

File:9TH 1891 Walk Off Grand Slam.jpg

After the minor league season ended, the Nationals promoted Maxwell to the major leagues, though he "was told not to expect much from his first month in the majors."{{cite news | title=Nationals Notebook: Team Trying to Keep Its Place on Radio Dial | author=Barry Svrluga | newspaper=Washington Post | date=September 7, 2007 | page=E07 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/06/AR2007090602600.html}} On September 5, he made his debut, as a pinch hitter, and flied out to the warning track. Six days later, in his third pinch hitting appearance, Maxwell recorded his first career base hit, a pinch-hit grand slam off an 0–2 pitch from Chris Seddon, of the Florida Marlins.{{cite news | title=Marlins Knock Off Nationals in a Slugfest | author=Amy Shipley | newspaper=Washington Post |date=September 12, 2007 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/11/AR2007091102505.html}} After the 2007 regular season, Maxwell played for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League.

Maxwell was assigned to the Harrisburg Senators of the Double-A Eastern League in 2008 after hitting .280 in 13 spring training games for Washington, but missed most of the year with a fractured wrist suffered while diving for a flyball in the outfield.{{cite news|url=http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081007&content_id=3601358&vkey=news_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was |title=Maxwell ready to make up for lost year |author=Bill Ladson |work=MLB.com |date=October 7, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101120092830/http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081007&content_id=3601358&vkey=news_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was |archive-date=November 20, 2010 }}

Maxwell spent most of the 2009 season with the AAA Syracuse Chiefs of the International League. He was called up late in the season because of injured center fielder Nyjer Morgan. On September 30, Maxwell hit a two-out full count walk off grand slam off of Francisco Rodriguez of the New York Mets on Fan Appreciation Day, the Nationals' last home game of the season.{{cite news | url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090930&content_id=7246992| title=Nationals walk off, sweep Mets: Home slate wraps on high note with Maxwell's slam | author=Bill Ladson| work=MLB.com | date=September 30, 2009}}

Maxwell split time with the AAA Syracuse Chiefs of the International League and the Nationals in 2010. On September 15, Maxwell hit a grand slam in the 2nd inning off of Mike Minor of the Atlanta Braves giving him three grand slams in four career at bats with the bases loaded.{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2010-09-15-nationals-braves_N.htm?csp=34sports | work=USA Today | title=Maxwell's grand slam powers Nationals over Braves, 4–2 | date=September 16, 2010}} In September, Maxwell sat out two games with a minor thumb injury suffered on September 18. He returned September 21 against the Houston Astros. Maxwell underwent Tommy John surgery after the season.[http://www.masnsports.com/byron_kerr/2010/10/maxwell-undergoes-tommy-john-eyes-february-return.html Byron Kerr: Maxwell undergoes Tommy John, eyes February return]. Masnsports.com (2010-10-28). Retrieved on 2011-11-15.

==New York Yankees==

On February 2, 2011 the Nationals traded Maxwell to the New York Yankees for minor league pitcher Adam Olbrychowski.[http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110202&content_id=16556000&vkey=affililiate&c_id=nyy Yankees acquire outfielder Justin Maxwell from Nationals | yankees.com: News]. Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved on 2011-11-15. Maxwell began the 2011 season with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees,[http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2011/03/28/montero-and-pena-officially-sent-to-triple-a Montero and Pena officially sent to Triple-A | The Lohud Yankees Blog]. Yankees.lhblogs.com (2011-03-28). Retrieved on 2011-11-15. but his season ended prematurely due to a torn labrum.[http://blogs.thetimes-tribune.com/yankees/?p=11629 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees Blog » The time for Jesus Montero: Is it now?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320182435/http://blogs.thetimes-tribune.com/yankees/?p=11629 |date=2012-03-20 }}. Blogs.thetimes-tribune.com (2011-08-08). Retrieved on 2011-11-15. The Yankees designated Maxwell for assignment at the end of spring training in 2012.{{cite web|title=Bombers bits|url=http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120404&content_id=27901516¬ebook_id=27913592&vkey=notebook_nyy&c_id=nyy#27928210|date=April 4, 2012|access-date=2012-04-06|first=Bryan|last=Hoch|work=MLB.com|archive-date=2012-04-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405225525/http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120404&content_id=27901516¬ebook_id=27913592&vkey=notebook_nyy&c_id=nyy#27928210|url-status=dead}}

==Houston Astros==

File:2013 07 27 3342 Justin Maxwell.jpg]]

The Houston Astros claimed Maxwell off waivers on April 8.{{cite web |title=Astros claim Maxwell from Yanks, option Abad |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120408&content_id=28163638¬ebook_id=28166396 |work=MLB.com |date=April 8, 2012 |access-date=April 24, 2015}} Maxwell led the team in home runs with 18. He batted .229 and had 53 RBIs.{{cite web |title=Justin Maxwell |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/maxweju01.shtml |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date=2015 |access-date=April 24, 2015}}

==Kansas City Royals==

Maxwell was traded to the Kansas City Royals for Kyle Smith on July 31, 2013.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130731&content_id=55385936&vkey=news_kc&c_id=kc|title=Royals acquire Maxwell from Astros for Smith|work=MLB.com|date=July 31, 2013|access-date=July 31, 2013}} He hit a walk-off grand slam on September 22, 2013 against the Texas Rangers. He was designated for assignment on May 16, 2014.{{cite web|title=Royals bring up Coleman, designate Maxwell|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=10943448|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|access-date=May 17, 2014|date=May 16, 2014}} After being re-added to the roster, he was designated for assignment again on June 30, 2014. Maxwell elected free agency in October 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/10/minor-moves-blue-jays.html|title=Minor Moves: Free Agents, Blue Jays|last=Wilmoth|first=Charlie|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=October 4, 2014|access-date=October 4, 2014}}

==San Francisco Giants==

Entering the 2015 spring training as a non-roster hopeful for the San Francisco Giants, Maxwell hit for power and a .300+ batting average, which earned him a contract for the 2015 season.{{cite web |first=Chris |last=Haft |title=Hitting work earns Maxwell roster spot with Giants |url=http://m.giants.mlb.com/news/article/115784230/hitting-work-earns-justin-maxwell-roster-spot-with-san-francisco-giants |work=MLB.com |date=March 31, 2015 |access-date=April 24, 2015 |archive-date=April 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232952/http://m.giants.mlb.com/news/article/115784230/hitting-work-earns-justin-maxwell-roster-spot-with-san-francisco-giants |url-status=dead }} He was designated for assignment on September 1, 2015.

==Miami Marlins==

On November 30, 2015, Maxwell signed a minor league deal with the Miami Marlins.{{cite web |title=Marlins' Justin Maxwell: Signs with Marlins |url=http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/marlins-justin-maxwell-signs-with-marlins/ |work=CBS Sports |date=November 30, 2015 |access-date=November 30, 2015}} He was released on March 29, 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-marlins/sfl-don-kelly-justin-maxwell-among-marlins-cuts-20160329-story.html|title=Don Kelly, Justin Maxwell among 4 cut by Marlins|last=Davis|first=Craig|work=sunsentinel.com|date=March 29, 2016|access-date=March 29, 2016}}

==Boston Red Sox==

On April 1, 2016, Maxwell signed a minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox.

==Lotte Giants==

On July 6, 2016, Maxwell signed with Lotte Giants of the Korea Baseball Organization for the rest of 2016 season.

==Broadcaster==

From August 31 to September 3, 2019, Maxwell made his debut as a broadcaster, serving as a substitute studio analyst on the Nats Xtra shows that aired before and after Washington Nationals games on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network.[https://www.dental.umaryland.edu/about/news/august-2019/dental-student-to-call-washington-nationals-pre--and-postgame-shows.php Newman, Gwen Farris, "Dental Student to Call Washington Nationals’ Pre- and Postgame Shows," dental.umaryland.edu, August 30, 2019 Retrieved September 5, 2019] He has served as a substitute for regular analyst F.P. Santangelo on the MASN broadcast of Nationals games during the 2021 season.{{Cite news|last=Dougherty|first=Jesse|date=4 May 2021|title=F.P. Santangelo returns to Nationals broadcast on MASN|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/05/03/fp-santangelo-nationals-broadcast-masn/}}

Personal

Maxwell is married and has three children.{{cite news|title=Maxwell keeps family together, adds big bat, glove in right|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=12867314|access-date=May 13, 2015|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=May 11, 2015}}

Maxwell enrolled at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry in 2019 and graduated as a Doctor of Dental Surgery in 2022.{{cite magazine |url=https://catalystmag.umaryland.edu/ex-major-leaguer-joins-dental-student-lineup/ |title=Ex-Major Leaguer Joins Dental Student Lineup |first=Gwen |last=Newman |date=November 13, 2019 |publisher=University of Maryland, Baltimore |magazine=CATALYST magazine |access-date=January 23, 2025}} As of 2025, he operates a dental practice called Major League Smiles in Ellicott City, Maryland.{{cite web |url=https://www.majorleaguesmiles.com/our-dentist-office/justin-maxwell-dds/ |title=Meet Ellicott City, MD, Dentist Justin Maxwell, D.D.S |access-date=January 23, 2025}}