The New York Yankees’ big free agent signing Max Fried made his spring debut on March 3rd and while the line wasn’t pretty, there was a lot to like. The former Atlanta Braves ace signed an eight year, $218 million deal and can be a game-changer for the Yankees. Here’s the breakdown and what it means.
Fried’s First Outing with the Yankees
In his debut, Fried pitched 2.1 innings and allowed two hits , issued two walks , hit a batter, and was charged with two runs . He also struck out two batters. On paper, the numbers might seem underwhelming, but this is spring training—a time when stats don’t tell the whole story. The focus here is on preparation and building toward the regular season.
Despite allowing baserunners, Fried showcased some encouraging signs:
- No Hard Contact: None of the balls put into play against him were barreled (0.0% barrel rate), indicating that even though runners reached base, they weren’t squaring him up.
- Swing-and-Miss Stuff: Fried generated a solid 27.3% whiff rate , showing that his pitches are already effective at fooling hitters.
- Secondary Pitches Shine: His sweeper and changeup stood out as particularly sharp, both earning high proStuff+ scores and generating significant swing-and-miss action.
Breaking Down Fried’s Pitch Arsenal
- Sweeper: Already looking like midseason form with a 110 proStuff+ score and a 33.3% whiff rate .
- Changeup: Effective early on with a 104 proStuff+ score and a 25% whiff rate .
- Fastball and Sinker: These primary pitches are still rounding into shape, but once they do, Fried’s arsenal will become even more lethal.
The fact that his secondary pitches are already performing well is a great sign. As his fastball and sinker continue to develop over the next few weeks, Fried’s overall dominance should only increase.
Why Max Fried was the Yankees play?
The Yankees made the smart move by signing Fried. He brings elite pitching and defense. After struggling in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on defense, this was the top need.
Fried is no ordinary pitcher—he’s a 3 time Gold Glove Award winner. He’s a 2 way player, he can pitch and play defense. Pairing him with Gerrit Cole gives the Yankees the best 1-2 punch in the MLB.
Some even say Fried will be more valuable than Cole in 2025. If Fried can continue to get better and stay healthy he’s the ace of the team.
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