Bruce Maxwell

Bruce Tyrone Maxwell III

Early life

Maxwell was born on a U.S. military installation in Wiesbaden, Germany, while his father, Bruce Jr., was stationed there with the U.S. Army during a tour of duty. He is biracial, his father being African-American and his mother Caucasian.

Maxwell played first base at Sparkman High School in Alabama. He then played first base and catcher in college baseball at Division III Birmingham–Southern College in Alabama.

Professional career

Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics selected Maxwell in the second round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft. He made his debut that year with the AZL Athletics, and was promoted to the Vermont Lake Monsters of the Low-A New York-Pennsylvania League after six games. For Vermont, he batted .254 with 22 RBIs and was charged with 18 passed balls in 38 games. In 60 games for Nashville prior to his promotion, he was batting .321 with ten home runs and 41 RBIs. He spent the remainder of the season with Oakland after his promotion and batted .283/.337/.402 in 33 games.

2017 Maxwell began 2017 with Nashville and was recalled and optioned multiple times before he was called up to Oakland for the remainder of the season on June 22. In 76 games for Oakland, he batted .237 with three home runs and 22 RBIs.

On September 23, 2017, Maxwell became the first MLB player to join other US athletes protesting racial injustice by kneeling during the national anthem; The Oakland Athletics immediately issued a statement saying the team "pride ourselves on being inclusive" and supports "players' constitutional rights and freedom of expression." While supported by the A's, Maxwell's future career in the MLB was seen as impacted by the reaction to his kneeling. He remained the only MLB player to protest by kneeling until 2020, when the league allowed for "Black Lives Matter" patches and organized league-wide kneeling for social justice in the aftermath of the nationwide protests of the murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis.

Subsequently, Maxwell said that while eating at a restaurant with a city councilman with whom he had attended high school, Devyn Keith, and another friend in Maxwell's hometown of Huntsville, Alabama, a waiter objected to Maxwell's protest and refused to serve their table. The waiter denied the story, saying he did not know who Maxwell was.

2018 Maxwell began 2018 with Oakland. He was placed on the restricted list on May 16 when the Athletics entered Canada to play the Toronto Blue Jays, as he was not eligible for entry into Canada as he had not yet been sentenced for his assault with a deadly weapon charge that was placed in the previous off-season. He was designated for assignment on September 1, 2018. Maxwell cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Nashville on September 6. For the season with the A's, he batted .182/.207/.309 with one home run. He elected free agency following the season on November 2.

Acereros de Monclova On March 6, 2019, Maxwell signed with the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League. He was successful in his first season with the club, slashing .325/.407/.559 with 24 home runs and 112 RBIs across 109 games played. Maxwell was also selected to the LMB All-Star Game and won the Serie del Rey with the Acereros, which was the first-ever championship for the team.

Maxwell re-signed with the Acereros de Monclova for the 2020 season. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was canceled.

New York Mets On July 27, 2020, the New York Mets signed Maxwell to a minor-league deal, pending a physical and a negative COVID-19 test. Maxwell did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He re-signed with the Mets on a new minor league deal on November 2, 2020. In 9 games for the Triple-A Syracuse Mets in 2021, Maxwell slashed .174/.355/.348 with 1 home run and 6 RBI.

San Francisco Giants On June 5, 2021, Maxwell was traded to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for cash considerations. Maxwell underwent Tommy John surgery in July and missed the remainder of the season. In 9 games for the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels, Maxwell had gone 8-for-34 with 1 home run and 6 RBI. Maxwell elected minor league free agency following the season on November 7, 2021.

Acereros de Monclova (second stint) On January 14, 2022, Maxwell signed with the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League . Maxwell slashed .365/.472/.615 with 10 home runs and 37 RBI across 44 games played.

Piratas de Campeche On March 16, 2023, Maxwell was traded to the Piratas de Campeche of the Mexican League. In 18 games, he batted .231/.412/.365 with one home run and six RBI.

Rieleros de Aguascalientes On June 14, 2023, Maxwell was traded to the Rieleros de Aguascalientes of the Mexican League. In 12 games, he batted .194/.356/.444 with two home runs and five RBI. On July 8, Maxwell was released by the Rieleros. He was released prior to the start of the season on April 9, 2024.

World Baseball Classic (WBC)

Maxwell has represented team Germany at the World Baseball Classic Qualifiers for three cycles (2016, 2020 (canceled), and 2022).

Coaching career

Toros de Tijuana On April 10, 2024, Maxwell joined the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League coaching staff as the catching coach for the 2024 season. It was his professional coaching debut at the age of 33. As part of a management restructuring, the club relieved Maxwell of his duties on May 21.

Awards and honors

+ Award Year Team League MID Mid-Season All Star 2013 Beloit Snapper MID CAL Mid-Season All-Star 2014 Stockton Ports CAL PCL Player of the Week 7/17/2016 Nashville Sounds PCL MiLB.com Organization All-Star 2016 Oakland Athletics AL MEX Mid-Season All-Star 2019 Acereros del Norte Mex

Personal life On October 28, 2017, Maxwell was accused of pointing a firearm at a food delivery driver delivering food to him at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona late at night. Maxwell was arrested on a felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. On July 2, 2018, he was sentenced to two years probation for disorderly conduct.