Yankees Dominant Pitching Starts with Max Fried

Max Fried pitching at Yankee Stadium against the Milwaukee Brewers. Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images. The photo can be found on Fox Sports Radio New Jersey.

The New York Yankees have gotten off to a hot start with an 8-2 record, leading the AL East. They began their season by sweeping the San Francisco Giants 3-0 and have recently won their series against the Seattle Mariners, 2-1, and the Miami Marlins, 2-1. New York has an incredible starting rotation, but one player that stands out from the rest is Max Fried.

Photo of Max Fried. Courtesy of AP Photo/Alex Gallardo. The photo can be found on the San Diego Union-Tribune.

He was originally drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2012 in the first round as the seventh overall pick. Two years later, Fried was traded to Atlanta for left fielder Justin Upton and right-handed pitcher Aaron Northcraft. Fried was included in a trade package with second baseman Jace Peterson, centerfielder Mallex Smith, and third baseman Dustin Peterson.

Fried made his debut with Atlanta on Aug. 8, 2017, against the Philadelphia Phillies, where he pitched for two innings, getting one strikeout and allowing two hits. Fried didn’t get his first win until nearly a month later, when the Braves played against the Chicago Cubs. In his start against Chicago, Fried went five innings, struck out four batters, and recorded four hits. 

In his eight years with the Braves, Fried recorded a 3.07 ERA with a 73-36 record and struck out 863 batters. 

Max Fried with the Rawlings Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Award at Truist Park before Atlanta's game against the Cincinnati Reds. Courtesy of Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports. The photo can be found on House That Hank Built.

The 2021 season was a big year for Fried, as he was the last pitcher to win the Silver Slugger Award after Major League Baseball implemented the designated hitter rule. Fried also won the Rawlings NL Gold Glove three years in a row, starting in 2020. Most importantly, Fried won the 2021 World Series with the Braves, bringing a championship to Atlanta for the first time since their 1995 win. 

In 2024, Fried signed an eight-year, $218 million contract with the New York Yankees after playing with the Atlanta Braves for eight years.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone (left) and Max Fried (right) shaking hands at Fried's press conference. The photo can be found on the New York Yankees X account here.

Fried, who is entering his second year with the Yankees, has been a consistent pitcher for the team. Just last season, he started in 32 games, where he got 19 wins and five losses. He finished the season with a 2.86 ERA and got 189 strikeouts in 195 innings. 

In his first year as a Yankee, Fried got to play in the postseason, where he faced New York’s rival, the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees got to the American League Division Series, where they lost to the Toronto Blue Jays, 3-1. 

Heading into Spring Training, New York resigned a lot of their players with the sole intention of bringing a championship back home. During Spring Training, Fried pitched in three games and pitched 14 innings, where he recorded a 4.40 ERA and got 12 strikeouts.

While Spring Training can be a time for spectators to see whether it’s time to hit the panic button, Fried proved that preseason numbers don’t always mean it’s time to worry. 

As the regular season was starting, the Yankees announced that Fried was going to be the starting pitcher for Opening Day.

Max Fried pitching at Oracle Park against the San Francisco Giants on Opening Day on March 25. Photo credits to Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post. The photo can be found on the New York Post.

In his first start of the season, he faced the San Francisco Giants and had a big game. Fried recorded a 0.00 ERA and went for six innings, where he only got two hits, walked one player, and struck out four batters. Heading into his second start of the season, he also had a 0.00 ERA against the Seattle Mariners and pitched for seven innings, where he got three hits, walked one batter, and recorded six strikeouts. 

During his latest start against the Marlins, Fried had a strong outing where he pitched for six innings, allowed three runs, and walked three batters, recording a 1.35 ERA. In his three starts, Fried currently holds a 2-0 record.

With only three starts in the season, Fried will play a pivotal role in the Yankees' starting rotation as he’s a consistent player and is experienced in high-stakes games. After starting in big games against teams such as the Red Sox, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Houston Astros, his experience will allow him to excel in high-pressure matches. 

Max Fried pitching against the Boston Red Sox in the 2025 American League Wild Card Series. Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) MLB Photos via Getty Images. The photo can be found on the Pinstripe Alley.

He is currently part of a four-man starting rotation alongside Cam Schlittler, Ryan Weathers, and Will Warren. Schlittler and Warren, who are relatively new to the league, will have Fried to look up to and get advice from as they continue to strengthen their craft. 

While their current rotation consists of younger pitchers, Fried will also have veteran players hoping to make an appearance later in the season. The Yankees also have Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Clarke Schmidt. New York has a perfect blend of rookies and veteran players in their starting rotation to help balance experience and development, which will help with long-term success.

With the rookies and veterans, Fried will have the opportunity to play a big role with the Yankees and make another potential run at the postseason. Fried’s next start is set to go against the Tampa Bay Rays on April 10.

Edited by Mary Merensky