Andrean's Kaden Maxwell decides to ‘stay in the lab.' Playing in Senior Future Games is part of his formula.

Chicago Tribune

4 days ago

Two days after winning the Class 3A state title in June, Andrean's Kaden Maxwell was on his way to Georgia.
A baseball tournament awaited him.
'If you want to get better, you can't take any days off,' he said. 'You have to stay in the lab, keep working out and keep throwing.
'Every time you take a day off, you take two steps back, and that's going to mess up your progression.'
Maxwell's busy schedule continues in the coming week, when he'll return to Georgia to play in Prep Baseball's invitation-only Senior Future Games.
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Maxwell, who will be a senior, isn't the only player from Northwest Indiana hoping to catch the eyes of college coaches at the event, which includes games Tuesday and Wednesday. Chesterton pitcher Troy Barrett and Illiana Christian pitcher Tanner Post will join him.
'I'm just going down there to show what I've got and hopefully get seen by some schools,' Maxwell said.
Maxwell, a pitcher and first baseman, was a two-way standout for Andrean during his junior season. He hit .380 with 31 RBIs and went 4-1 with 1.50 ERA in 26 1/3 innings.
Andrean coach Dave Pishkur said he believes Maxwell could be just as effective in dual roles in college too.
'I'm curious to see what all of these DI schools are looking for out of him because I think he's a potential two-way player,' Pishkur said. 'He's had some batting practices where he's put on a show, and I've always said that I thought he had the best stuff on our team this year, which is saying a lot on a team that had some really good arms.'
Maxwell said he has already been in touch with multiple Big Ten coaches.
'It's a stressful process, and it's definitely coming fast,' he said. 'But you just have to realize what your value is and how good of a player you are. I think that's the case for a lot of people. They don't think they're good enough, but then they start getting recruited.'
To keep sharp when he doesn't have a game, Maxwell practices with Andrean shortstop Jet Dutton, who will also be a senior.
'He's always working to become a better player,' Dutton said. 'Especially in these last few years, we're always going out to hit with each other, always doing something to keep improving.'
Facing Maxwell, Dutton has learned how difficult it can be to hit against him.
'He has a high spin rate on his curveball and his slider, and they move a lot,' Dutton said. 'It's hard to hit a ball when it's moving like that.'
Maxwell intends to keep moving. In the fall, he'll play for the Chicago Cubs Scout Team, another high-level program that competes in tournaments all over the country. Its alumni list includes 2025 Lake Central graduate Joshua Flores, who was picked in the fourth round of the MLB draft by the Milwaukee Brewers.
'I've been competing against some really good teams recently, and I've talked with a lot of coaches who've been communicating that they like what they see,' Maxwell said. 'Hopefully I've got a good future here.'