Max Fried

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #8 prospect in 2018
  The first high school pitcher drafted in 2012, Fried has endured Tommy John surgery, a trade and bouts of wildness. A blister issue helped ruin his first half in 2017, but he rebounded to make his big league debut in August. Fried's fastball and curveball combo can be devastating when he's throwing strikes. His plus curve has long been his biggest weapon. He loosens it up as a 72-74 mph get-me-over pitch early in counts, but then tightens it into a harder 75-77 tight-breaking curve that generates swings and misses later in counts. Fried's 92-93 mph fastball touches 97 at its hottest. It is an above-average pitch, but his current below-average control limits his effectiveness. His fringe-average changeup is a usable pitch Fried unveils against righthanders. He fields his position well and has a dangerous pickoff move. He toys with hitters' timing by varying his time over the rubber in his delivery.Fried lacks the polish and control of younger system-mates Mike Soroka or Kolby Allard, but he also has better pure stuff. As a member of the 40-man roster, he figures to see big league time in 2018, though his control could use further refinement up the road in Gwinnett.
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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #10 prospect in 2017
  Atlanta finally had the opportunity to see Fried on the mound after the Braves acquired him from the Padres in December 2014 as part of the Justin Upton trade. The seventh overall pick in the 2012 draft, Fried missed much of 2014 and all of 2015 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Other than a blister problem that cost him a month at midseason, the lefthander showed few ill effects from the procedure while making 21 appearances at low Class A Rome in 2016. Fried displayed an increase in overall maturity and overcame some early-season rustiness with his fastball command to overpower hitters late in the campaign. He struck out 10 batters in each of his last two starts before notching 11 in his first playoff appearance. Fried showed a plus fastball at 92-95 mph and even touched 97 on several occasions, though his fastball command is below-average. He throws a hard curveball that generated many of his strikeouts. He also throws a slower breaking ball primarily early in counts and became more consistent with both breaking balls as the year progressed. Fried's improving changeup features solid fade and depth and generates swings and misses. He finished the season with 44 strikeouts in his last 25.1 innings, counting the South Atlantic League playoffs. He'll try to maintain that momentum in 2017 at high Class A Florida. With more command, he could pitch toward the front of a big league rotation.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #7 prospect in 2016
  The Braves went with a high-risk, high-reward approach when they acquired Fried, the seventh overall pick in the 2012 draft, from the Padres as part of the Justin Upton trade prior to the 2015 season. Only Fried's high school teammate Lucas Giolito, now the Nationals' top prospect, offered more promise among the prep arms available in the 2012 draft. He logged just 11 innings in 2014 and then missed all of 2015 after having Tommy John surgery in August 2014. Possessing the potential for at least two plus pitches, Fried has a lean frame that could generate additional velocity as his body matures. When healthy, he does a good job of working off a low-90s fastball that touches 95 mph. His best pitch is an overhand hammer curveball with a 12-to-6 break that generates strikeouts. His changeup needs work, but he has shown a decent feel for it in limited use. Fried struggled with control at low Class A Fort Wayne in 2013, though elbow soreness may have been to blame. Fried has lost nearly two years of development. The signs regarding his rehab are positive, and the Braves are confident he can re-emerge as a potential frontline starter. Fried's return in 2016 is expected to be methodical as he rebuilds his arm strength over the course of the campaign.
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  Ranked San Diego Padres #6 prospect in 2015
  Fried and Harvard-Westlake High teammate Lucas Giolito become the seventh pair of prep teammates to be selected in the first round of the same draft in 2012. Now he and the Nationals' No. 1 prospect are linked for another reason after Fried had Tommy John surgery in late August 2014, almost exactly two years after Giolito had the same procedure. Fried came down with forearm soreness in spring training 2014 and didn't make his first appearance until July 3, when he began a rehab assignment. Five abbreviated, ineffective starts later and he was done for the year, with scouts seeing little trace of the same pitcher who showed promise at low Class A Fort Wayne in 2013. Fried has room to grow into his 6-foot-4 frame and possibly add to his 90-92 mph fastball that has topped out at 95 in pro ball. He shows uncommon feel for a power curveball with plus, 12-to-6 action and serious strikeout potential. Even when healthy in 2013, Fried had not mastered a changeup or thrown enough strikes (4.3 walks per nine innings) to maximize his stuff. The Padres commend Fried for fully committing to his Tommy John rehab regimen and expect him to be ready to pitch in games late in the 2015 season. With two potential plus pitches and an average third, he has a ceiling of No. 2 starter, though his spotty pro performance record and elbow surgery enhance his risk significantly.
• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #3 prospect in 2014
  The seventh overall pick in 2012, Fried paired with fellow Harvard-Westlake School product Lucas Giolito, now the Nationals' No. 1 prospect, to become the seventh pair of high school teammates selected in the first round of the same draft. Signed for $3 million, Fried advanced to low Class A Fort Wayne in 2013 and made all 23 of his starts in a six-man rotation. His strikeout (7.6 per nine innings) and walk (4.2) rates ranked among the highest in the Midwest League for ERA qualifiers. Fried can spin a plus curveball and has two other pitches that scouts grade favorably, but what enhances his ceiling is the projection remaining in his lean 6-foot-4 frame. He fires 90-91 mph fastballs and tops out at 95 in each start--doing so from a textbook delivery and clean arm action--and scouts project a future plus fastball once he's done filling out. Fried's power curve turns the most heads for its tight rotation and top-to-bottom spin, and it was responsible for claiming the most strikeout victims. His changeup came a long way in 2013 as he began incorporating into his everyday repertoire. The Padres believe Fried's walk rate will drop once he challenges hitters more frequently in the zone. A three-pitch lefty who misses bats and has a good pickoff move, Fried will zoom through the minors if he throws more strikes. He has No. 2 starter upside, with a chance to jump quickly to Double-A San Antonio if he excels early at high Class A Lake Elsinore in 2014.
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  Ranked San Diego Padres #2 prospect in 2013
  Fried transferred to the Harvard-Westlake School for his 2012 senior season when his previous high school eliminated its athletic program. There he teamed briefly with righty Lucas Giolito before a strained elbow ligament sidelined Giolito in March. Regardless, Fried (seventh overall) and Giolito (16th, Nationals) became the seventh pair of prep teammates selected in the first round of the same draft. Fried gave up a UCLA commitment for $3 million. Fried's arm action, projectable frame and steady 90-94 mph fastball from the left side would have made him a first-round pick. The quality of his breaking ball coupled with his athleticism and work ethic made him the top high school pitcher in his draft class, a Clayton Kershaw with less power or a Tyler Skaggs with firmer stuff. The Padres have clocked Fried as high as 96 mph, but they're equally impressed with his ability to two-seam his fastball at 90-91 and command it to his arm side. His curveball sits in the mid-70s now with top-to-bottom spin and plus depth, and scouts expect plus-plus grades and steady high-70s readings down the line. Like most prep pitchers, he has the least feel for his changeup, though he already gets average separation from his fastball. Improving his changeup and stamina will be focal points for Fried as he embarks on his first full pro season, probably with low Class A Fort Wayne.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #11 prospect in 2012 draft
  Fried transferred to Harvard-Westlake for his senior season after his Montclair College Prep team eliminated its athletic program, and with teammate Lucas Giolito sidelined, Fried has carried the load as the Wolverines' ace and a key hitter. Lean, athletic and projectable at 6-foot-4, 180 pounds, Fried has a fluid delivery and advanced feel for three pitches that all have a chance to be plus or better. At his best, he adds and subtracts from a fastball that ranges from 88-95 mph, generally pitching with solid-average velocity, though he has the ability to reach back for more when he needs to. His best pitch is a tight downer curveball in the 74-78 range that rates conservatively as a plus pitch and flashes plus-plus. He can manipulate the shape and velocity of the curveball depending on the situation, throwing it for a strike or a chase pitch. His low-80s changeup is already at least average and projects as another plus pitch. Fried looked like a good bet to be drafted in the top five to 10 picks for most of the spring, but his stock slipped a bit down the stretch as fatigue has evidently set in. In his most recent starts, Fried showed a 90-92 mph fastball and 79 curveball in the first, but dropped into the 86-88 range with a 69 mph curve by the third inning. A UCLA signee, Fried is cerebral and determined; his late-season dip notwithstanding, he projects as a potential No. 2 starter in the big leagues with a chance to be a No. 1.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Southern League #19 prospect in 2017
  Not often does a Double-A pitcher with an ERA pushing 6.00 crack a league top prospect list, but Fried is the exception because he pitches with two plus pitches at his best. Additionally, he spent most of the SL season plagued by blister problems that cleared up once he reached Triple-A and then the big leagues, where he debuted on Aug. 8. Unable to go to his trademark curveball for chunks of the season because of blisters, Fried learned to work with his fastball and changeup. He pitches at 92 mph and can touch 97 mph with a plus fastball that he still needs to locate better for early-count strikes. Both of Fried's secondary pitches are weapons. His plus curveball ranges from 70-80 mph and generates a high rate of swings and misses. He uses his average changeup less frequently but to good effect.
• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #6 prospect in 2016
  The Braves acquired Fried from the Padres in the December 2014 Justin Upton trade at a time when the lefthander still was recovering from Tommy John surgery. The seventh overall pick in 2012, he returned this season to low Class A, the level where he spent a full season in 2013 before his elbow injury. Now 22, Fried needed the first half of the season to shake off rust and return to form after Tommy John surgery, especially when it came to his fastball command. He left a mid-July start with a blister that forced him to the disabled list for a month, but when he returned, he was every bit the pitcher the Braves envisioned. Fried struck out 10 in back-to-back starts to end the regular season and then fanned 11 in his first playoff start. He did so with a 92-95 mph fastball that touched 97, a plus curveball that acts as two distinct breaking pitches--a slow, early-count one and a harder strikeout pitch--and a changeup that has improved to an average offering that generates some swings and misses.
• 
  Ranked Midwest League #8 prospect in 2013
  Fort Wayne boasted the most talented rotation in the league with four starters who are solid prospects. A 6-foot-4 lefthander, Fried has the highest upside of the four and he also may be the closest to the majors as well. A high school teammate of Nationals righthander Lucas Giolito, Fried has a plus fastball that sits 91-93 mph and touches 95. His curveball was one of the best in the league and his changeup shows flashes of being an average pitch. He had the second-best strikeout rate among MWL starters at 7.6 per nine innings. ?I don?t think he?ll take long. He?ll shoot through the minors,? a second AL scout said. ?He doesn?t have all that much to work on.?

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #72 prospect in 2018
• Ranked Baseball America's #53 prospect in 2014
• Ranked Baseball America's #46 prospect in 2013

• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The first high school pitcher drafted in 2012, Fried has endured Tommy John surgery, a trade and bouts of wildness. A blister issue helped ruin his first half in 2017, but he rebounded to make his big league debut in August. SCOUTING REPORT: Fried's fastball and curveball combo can be devastating when he's throwing strikes. His plus curve has long been his biggest weapon. He loosens it up as a 72-74 mph get-me-over pitch early in counts, but then tightens it into a harder 75-77 tight-breaking curve that generates swings and misses later in counts. Fried's 92-93 mph fastball touches 97 at its hottest. It is an above-average pitch, but his cur- rent below-average control limits his effectiveness. His fringe-average changeup is a usable pitch Fried unveils against righthanders. He fields his position well and has a dangerous pickoff move. THE FUTURE: Fried lacks the polish and control of younger systemmates Mike Soroka or Kolby Allard, but he also has better pure stuff. As a member of the 40-man roster, he figures to see big league time in 2018, though his control could use further refinement.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Atlanta finally had the opportunity to see Fried on the mound after the Braves acquired him from the Padres in December 2014 as part of the Justin Upton trade. The seventh overall pick in the 2012 draft, Fried missed much of 2014 and all of 2015 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Other than a blister problem that cost him a month at midseason, the lefthander showed few ill effects from the procedure while making 21 appearances at low Class A Rome in 2016. Scouting Report: Fried displayed an increase in overall maturity and overcame some early-season rustiness with his fastball command to overpower hitters late in the campaign. He struck out 10 batters in each of his last two starts before notching 11 in his first playoff appearance. Fried showed a plus fastball at 92-95 mph and even touched 97 on several occasions, though his fastball command is below-average. He throws a hard curveball that generated many of his strikeouts. He also throws a slower breaking ball primarily early in counts and became more consistent with both breaking balls as the year progressed. Fried's improving changeup features solid fade and depth and generates swings and misses.
  
  The Future: Fried finished the season with 44 strikeouts in his last 25.1 innings, counting the South Atlantic League playoffs. He'll try to maintain that momentum in 2017 at high Class A Florida. With more command, he could pitch toward the front of a big league rotation.
• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Fried transferred to the Harvard-Westlake School for his 2012 senior season when his previous high school eliminated its athletic program. There he teamed with righty Lucas Giolito before a strained elbow ligament sidelined Giolito in March. Regardless, Fried (seventh overall) and Giolito (16th, Nationals) became the seventh pair of prep teammates selected in the first round of the same draft. Fried gave up a UCLA commitment for $3 million. Scouting Report: Fried's arm action, projectable frame and steady 90-94 mph fastball from the left side would have made him a first-round pick. The quality of his breaking ball coupled with his athleticism and work ethic made him the top high school pitcher in his draft class. The Padres have clocked Fried as high as 96 mph, but they're equally impressed with his ability to two-seam his fastball at 90-91 and command it to his arm side. His curveball sits in the mid-70s now with plus depth, and scouts expect steady high-70s readings down the line. Like most prep pitchers, he has the least feel for his changeup, though he already gets average separation from his fastball. The Future: Improving his changeup and stamina will be focal points for Fried as he embarks on his first full pro season, probably with low Class A Fort Wayne. He has both a high ceiling and a high floor, and he could zoom through the minors.