Name: Maxwell Paterson
School: Bothell High School
High School Grad Year: 2022
GPA: 3.95
Summer Team: Northwest Bandits
Positions: Outfield (CF)
Throw: Left
Hit: Right
1. What are some areas of your game that you have been focusing on lately to improve upon?
One area of my game that I’ve been working to improve in recently is the speed factor that comes into play as a center fielder. Lifting on a daily basis during the COVID-19 pandemic has helped significantly improve all other areas of my game, and has helped in dropping my 60-time to some degree. More recently in addition to putting on muscle in the weight room, recently I’ve been implementing more speed and explosiveness training into my weekly workout routine.
2. What are some goals and dreams you hope to reach in the next couple of years?
As I get stronger and work towards improving the physical and mental side of my game, my dream would be to be on the radar of some higher level schools. Ideally division 1 baseball is the goal, and preferably somewhere on the West Coast. However, I understand that there is a limited number of D1 schools on this side of the country, so I’m open to most locations depending on what the offer looks like. To narrow down the list some, I plan to major in Education, and have already begun gaining experience in that field through programs provided by my school and through tutoring the kids of neighborhood families.
3. How long have you been playing baseball and what got you started in the game?
Baseball has been a huge portion of my life for as long as I can remember. I first played for an organized team at 3 years old, but prior to that spent a lot of time hitting wiffle balls in the backyard and the street in front of my house. Both my parents grew up watching baseball so naturally I developed a love for the game at a young age.
4. What are some of your favorite things about the game of baseball?
One thing I love about the game of baseball is that it presents the opportunity to build lifelong relationships and friends. I have made friends through school, yes. But the friendships, the brothers that I have gotten to know and love through baseball couldn’t have been found anywhere else. I also love the competitive element of the game. It’s the opportunity to display how hard you’ve worked as a team to prove to another group of guys that you wanted it more; that you love it more. It’s the opportunity to wear your body down with blood, sweat and tears and come out feeling great after your team has secured a win through a gritty, scrappy, back and forth game of ball.
5. Who in your life has helped push you to be your best on the field?
Most definitely my parents have pushed me more than anyone to be my best on and off the field. When I’ve gotten down on myself and felt like things weren’t going my way, they’ve been there to assure me that everything will happen according to God’s plan, that everything happens for a reason. They’ve given me reality checks when I start thinking about myself too much. They’ve taught me that there is never an inch of room for excuses and that with excuses there’s no way I’ll learn or progress. Also, in the more recent years of my life, my high school coach has helped push me to be better each and every time I get knocked down. One of his favorite phrases to say post-practice and game is, “Setback, comeback.” This is a motto I will live by for the rest of my life.