Yankees’ Max Fried Shows Stellar Pickoff Skills in Recent Game

During a recent game in Denver, Max Fried showcased his impressive pickoff abilities. Whenever he managed to get runners on base, he maintained his composure until the ball crossed home plate.

It’s possible that opposing teams will eventually adjust to his strategy, but for now, the Yankees seem to benefit from his potent pickoff tactics.

On Saturday, Fried caught two runners in just three innings.

“I really dislike it,” Cody Bellinger remarked with a chuckle.

Fried shared his experience: “I don’t think I’ve ever felt so focused when at a base facing him. I just wait for him to see the ball in the catcher’s mitt. That’s something impressive.”

Fried allowed only one run over 7¹/₃ innings, surrendering a single in those initial three frames.

However, the moment the Rockies gained some momentum, Fried quickly disrupted it with a pickoff, effectively putting the brakes on their progress.

In fact, he finished with five pickoffs this season, leading the league.

“Controlling the running game is something I take pride in,” Fried said. “It’s crucial to prevent runners from advancing too far. I enjoy that challenge.”

His third pickoff on Saturday did lead to a run for the Rockies, as his throw went past Paul Goldschmidt.

“I’ve never seen a move quite like it,” Goldschmidt stated. “It’s a real struggle for base runners to stay close. But I’m starting to get a better feel for it.”

He continued, “When runners are there, they’re not just trying to time the pitch. Fried is fully attentive to them and manages to pitch effectively at the same time.”

In terms of injuries, Fernando Cruz (suffering from shoulder inflammation) has been active after a brief stint on the injured list and is working his way back.

“That’s encouraging,” Boone noted. “He went through all the necessary preliminaries. If all goes well, we hope to see him back on the mound soon in California.”

This could mean Cruz might be unavailable for at least 15 days.

Meanwhile, Jake Cousins, who faced forearm tightness, recently completed a bullpen session after some rest.

Lastly, Marcus Stroman has been active with bullpen sessions, but it’s still uncertain when he’ll return to face live batters, especially after experiencing discomfort since May 9th.