Former Kettleer Maxwell Inks Deal With Washington Nats

Oct. 7, 2005

For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON D.C. — Former Cotuit Kettleer standout centerfielder Justin Maxwell (Maryland) signed a three-year Minor League contract yesterday with the Washington Nationals, culminating a sumer-long negotiation between his agent IMG in New York and the Major League Baseball Commissioner's office.

    Major League Baseball owns the Washington Nationals and in the June 2005 MLB First-Year Player Draft, Maxwell was selected in the 4th Round with the Nationals' second overall pick.

    Maxwell's signing bonus was for an undisclosed amount, but he was offered a two-year guaranteed "call up" to the Majors in the 2007 and 2008 seasons, a rare incentive not usually offered to Minor League rookies.

    Maxwell graduated from the University of Maryland with his bachelor of science degree on May 21, 2005, then spent the summer rehabilitating after minor hand surgery to repair a small bone fracture he originally sustained on July 5, 2004 while playing for Cotuit versus the Brewster Whitecaps.

    In 2003, Maxwell was named a first team Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star while playing centerfield for the the Western Division champion Bourne Braves. He was one of seven Cape League players to bat over .300 that season (.307).

    He was originally slated to report to the Instructional League in the Dominican Republic this fall, but all U.S. players were sent back to the United States after threats of terrorism there. He will report to Spring Training with Washington in early 2006.