50 Facts About Max Fried

Early Life and High School Achievements

Max Fried's journey to becoming a top MLB pitcher began in Santa Monica, California. His early years were filled with sports and achievements.

1. 01Max Fried was born on January 18, 1994, in Santa Monica, California.
2. 02He is the middle son of Carrie and Jonathan Fried and is Jewish.
3. 03Fried attended the Reggie Smith Baseball Academy in Encino, California, where he learned to throw a curveball from retired outfielder Reggie Smith.
4. 04He attended Montclair College Preparatory School in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, where he played baseball, football, and basketball.
5. 05As a sophomore, he was 10–3 with a 1.81 ERA, earning the Olympic League MVP and a spot on the All-California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Division V first team.
6. 06In his junior year at Montclair Prep, Fried was 7–3 with a 1.31 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 69 innings.
7. 07He also played outfield and batted .360 with four home runs and 30 RBIs.
8. 08This performance earned him the 2011 Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame Male High School Athlete of the Year.
9. 09After Montclair Prep cut its baseball team, Fried transferred to Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles.
10. 10In his senior year at Harvard-Westlake, Fried was 8–2 with a 2.02 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 66 innings.
11. 11He was a 2012 Rawlings-Perfect Game 1st Team All-American.

Draft and Early Professional Career

Fried's talent was quickly recognized, leading to his selection in the MLB draft and the start of his professional career.

12. 12The San Diego Padres selected Fried in the first round of the 2012 MLB draft with the seventh overall pick.
13. 13Despite committing to UCLA, Fried chose to sign with the Padres for $3 million.
14. 14Fried made his professional debut for the Arizona League Padres in 2012.
15. 15He spent the entire season there, beginning his journey towards becoming a professional baseball player.
16. 16In 2014, Fried was ranked the Padres’ top pitching prospect and their No. 2 prospect overall by MLB.com.
17. 17However, his season was cut short due to injury, leading to Tommy John surgery on August 20, 2014.
18. 18On December 19, 2014, the Padres traded Fried to the Atlanta Braves.
19. 19He missed the entire 2015 season while recovering from surgery.
20. 20Fried began the 2017 season with the AA Mississippi Braves.
21. 21After one game, he joined the Gwinnett Stripers.
22. 22He was called up to the Atlanta Braves in April 2018.

Major League Debut and Rise to Prominence

Fried's major league debut marked the beginning of his rise to prominence as a key player for the Atlanta Braves.

23. 23Fried made his major league debut in 2017.
24. 24He pitched 33.2 innings for the Braves in the 2018 regular season, going 1–4 with 44 strikeouts and a 2.94 ERA.
25. 25Fried started the 2019 season in the bullpen but was later moved to the starting rotation.
26. 26In 2019, he was 17–6 with a 4.02 ERA and struck out 173 batters.
27. 27His 17 wins were second in the National League, and his .739 won-loss percentage was fifth in the league.
28. 28As a batter, Fried hit .273/.322/.327 in 2019.
29. 29His batting average and on-base percentage led all pitchers, while his slugging percentage ranked second.
30. 30He was good enough to be asked to pinch-hit four times.
31. 31On defense, Fried led the league in range factor/game as a pitcher (1.61).
32. 32He led in assists as a pitcher for the third consecutive season (37).
33. 33He led in Defensive Runs Saved for the third season in a row (6).
34. 34He tied for the major league lead in pickoffs (6) for the second consecutive season.

Awards and Achievements

Fried's exceptional skills have earned him numerous awards and recognition throughout his career.

35. 35In 2020, Fried won the NL Gold Glove Award at pitcher and the Fielding Bible Award at pitcher.
36. 36He repeated this achievement in 2021 and 2022.
37. 37In 2021, Fried won the Silver Slugger Award for pitchers.
38. 38He became the third pitcher in MLB history to win both the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger in the same year.
39. 39Fried was named to the All-MLB Team in both 2020 and 2021.
40. 40Fried played a crucial role in the Atlanta Braves' 2021 World Series victory.
41. 41He pitched six shut-out innings in the final game against the Houston Astros.
42. 42Through 2023, Fried had the best career win-loss percentage of all Braves pitchers, at .705.
43. 43As of 2024, Fried has a career record of 73 wins and 36 losses with a 3.07 ERA.
44. 44He has pitched 884.1 innings, struck out 863 batters, and allowed 783 hits.
45. 45Fried stands at 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 86 kilograms (189 pounds).
46. 46Fried graduated from high school and pursued his professional baseball career without attending college.
47. 47Fried is often nicknamed "Maximus" due to his dominant performance on the mound.
48. 48Throughout his career, Fried has worn the uniform numbers 61 and 54 for the Atlanta Braves.
49. 49In 2021, Fried's salary was $3.5 million.
50. 50His salary has increased over the years, reflecting his growing importance to the team.

Max Fried: A Pitching Powerhouse

Max Fried's journey from a young baseball enthusiast to a top-tier MLB pitcher is nothing short of inspiring. With a career marked by Gold Glove Awards, a Silver Slugger Award, and a pivotal role in the Atlanta Braves' 2021 World Series victory, Fried has proven his mettle time and again. His impressive stats, including a career win-loss percentage of .705 and a 3.07 ERA, highlight his consistency and skill on the mound. Beyond his pitching prowess, Fried's batting and defensive abilities make him a well-rounded player. As he continues to shine for the Braves, fans can look forward to more stellar performances from this talented athlete. Max Fried's dedication, resilience, and talent ensure he'll remain a key figure in baseball for years to come.