Max Fried has emerged as one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball, leading the Atlanta Braves to their first World Series title since 1995. His success can largely be attributed to his elite changeup, a pitch that has become one of the most effective in the league.
Fried's changeup is a devastating pitch that has helped him establish himself as one of the best pitchers in baseball. It has a unique combination of velocity and movement, making it difficult for batters to hit. Fried's changeup comes in at around 85 mph, which is slower than his fastball, but it has a lot of downward movement. This movement makes it hard for batters to square up the ball, and it often results in ground balls or strikeouts.
Fried's changeup is not only effective, but it is also one of the most consistent pitches in baseball. He has excellent control of the pitch, and he can throw it for strikes in any count. This consistency makes it difficult for batters to adjust to Fried's changeup, and it has been a major factor in his success.
Fried's changeup is a major reason why he has become one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball. It is a pitch that he can rely on in any situation, and it has helped him lead the Atlanta Braves to the World Series title.
FAQs About Max Fried: Atlanta Braves' Ace With An Elite Changeup
Max Fried is a professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves. Drafted by the San Diego Padres in the first round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft, he made his MLB debut with them in 2017 and was traded to the Braves in 2019.
Max Fried: Atlanta Braves' Ace With An Elite Changeup
Max Fried gets the nod as Braves' opening day starter | AP News - Source apnews.com
Question 1: What is Max Fried's best pitch?
Fried's best pitch is his changeup. It is considered to be one of the best changeups in baseball, and he uses it to keep hitters off-balance and generate ground balls.
Question 2: What is Fried's career record?
As of the end of the 2022 season, Fried has a career record of 50-30 with a 3.34 ERA in 103 starts.
Question 3: What is Fried's signature move on the mound?
Fried is known for his unique "hitch" in his pitching motion. He brings his glove to his mouth and pauses briefly before delivering the pitch.
Question 4: What is Fried's contract with the Braves?
Fried signed a six-year, $63 million extension with the Braves in March 2022.
Question 5: What awards has Fried won?
Fried was named an MLB All-Star in 2021 and won the Silver Slugger Award that same year.
Question 6: What is Fried's role on the Braves?
Fried is one of the Braves' top starting pitchers and is expected to be a key part of their rotation for years to come.
Max Fried is a young, talented pitcher with a bright future. He is one of the best young pitchers in baseball and is a key part of the Braves' rotation.
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Tips
Elevating a changeup to an elite weapon requires a combination of mechanics, sequencing, velocity, and deception. Max Fried, the Atlanta Braves' ace, has mastered this pitch, relying on it as his primary strikeout weapon. Here are some tips inspired by Fried's approach:
World Series: Braves win behind best stuff of Max Fried’s career - Source www.si.com
Tip 1: Establish a Strong Grip: Fried uses a circle changeup grip, where his thumb and forefinger grip the outside of the ball, while his middle finger sits underneath for stability. This grip creates downward pressure on the ball, promoting arm speed and late movement.
Tip 2: Maintain a Smooth Arm Path: Fried maintains a fluid arm swing to preserve velocity and make it difficult for batters to predict. He keeps his elbow slightly bent and accelerates his arm with control, releasing the ball close to his ear.
Tip 3: Minimize Pitch Rotation: To achieve late dive, Fried keeps his wrist relatively neutral upon release. This reduces spin and allows gravity to pull the ball down as it travels towards the plate, fooling batters who expect it to rise.
Tip 4: Vary Velocity: Fried's changeup ranges in speed from 80-87 mph, significantly slower than his fastball. This contrast creates a devastating tunnel effect, making it challenging for batters to distinguish between the two pitches.
Tip 5: Sequence Effectively: Fried often sets up his changeup with a high fastball, forcing batters to adjust their swing plane and making the changeup appear even slower. Pitch sequencing distracts the hitter and increases the chances of a strikeout.
By incorporating these techniques, pitchers can enhance their changeup's effectiveness. Mastering this pitch can elevate a pitcher's repertoire and make them a more formidable force on the mound.
Max Fried: Atlanta Braves' Ace With An Elite Changeup
Max Fried, the Atlanta Braves' ace, has established himself as one of the most dominant pitchers in Major League Baseball, owing in large part to his exceptional changeup.
- Precision Pitches: Fried possesses pinpoint control over his changeup, making it difficult for batters to square up.
- Velocity Variance: His changeup boasts a significant speed differential compared to his other pitches, leading to a devastating deception.
- Bottom of the Zone: Fried frequently locates his changeup low in the strike zone, inducing ground balls and limiting hard contact.
- Swing and miss: Batters often struggle to make solid contact against Fried's changeup, resulting in a high percentage of swings and misses.
- Consistency: Fried's changeup is remarkably consistent, allowing him to command the pitch in any count against any hitter.
- Offensive impact: Fried's elite changeup has a crippling effect on opposing offenses, lowering their batting averages and on-base percentages.
In summary, the precision, velocity variance, low location, swing-and-miss potential, consistency, and offensive impact of Max Fried's changeup combine to make it one of the most formidable pitches in baseball. It has played a pivotal role in his rise as an ace and has been instrumental in the success of the Atlanta Braves.
Max Fried: Atlanta Braves' Ace With An Elite Changeup
Max Fried, a 28-year-old left-handed pitcher for the Atlanta Braves, has established himself as one of the game's top pitchers. His success is largely attributed to his exceptional changeup, a pitch that has become his signature weapon. The changeup is a devastating pitch for Fried, as it mimics the velocity and release point of his fastball but breaks sharply downward, inducing ground balls and strikeouts.
Is Max fried ready to become even more for the Atlanta Braves? - Source tomahawktake.com
The effectiveness of Fried's changeup lies in its combination of velocity and movement. He throws his changeup with an average velocity of 84 mph, which is only slightly slower than his fastball. This makes it difficult for batters to distinguish between the two pitches until it's too late. Additionally, Fried's changeup has a sharp downward break that averages 17 inches, making it one of the most effective changeups in baseball. This combination of velocity and movement makes it nearly impossible for batters to square up the ball, resulting in a high number of groundouts and strikeouts.
Fried's changeup has been a key factor in his success as a pitcher. In 2021, he finished with a 14-7 record, a 3.04 ERA, and 211 strikeouts. He also helped lead the Braves to their first World Series title since 1995. Fried's changeup was a key factor in his success in the postseason, as he used it to neutralize batters and keep the Braves in games. He threw his changeup over 40% of the time in the postseason, and it was one of the biggest reasons why the Braves were able to win the World Series.
Max Fried is one of the best pitchers in baseball today, and his elite changeup is a major reason why. His changeup is a devastating pitch that gives him an advantage over batters and helps him to win games. Fried is a key part of the Braves' rotation, and he will continue to be a force on the mound for years to come.
Table of Fried's Changeup Statistics
| Year | ERA | WHIP | SO/9 | BB/9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3.04 | 1.04 | 11.5 | 2.3 |
| 2022 | 2.48 | 1.02 | 12.2 | 2.1 |
| Career | 3.20 | 1.03 | 11.8 | 2.2 |
Conclusion
Max Fried's changeup is one of the best in baseball, and it is a key reason why he is one of the most successful pitchers in the game. His changeup is a devastating pitch that gives him an advantage over batters and helps him to win games. Fried is a key part of the Braves' rotation, and he will continue to be a force on the mound for years to come.
Fried's changeup is a reminder that sometimes the best way to succeed is to be different. Fried's changeup is not the fastest or the most overpowering pitch in baseball, but it is one of the most effective. This is because Fried has learned to use his changeup to his advantage. He knows how to locate it effectively, and he knows how to use it to keep batters off balance. As a result, Fried has become one of the best pitchers in baseball, and his changeup is a big reason why.
