TAMPA – The Yankees have a former Red Sox who appreciate the new left-handed bread and butter pitch.
Max Fried learned curveball from his “baseball coach” Reggie Smith when he was a child attending the longtime outfielder baseball academy in California.
That's a big reason why Freed landed an eight-year, $218 million contract with the Yankees almost 20 years later.
“From hits to fielding to pitching, everything. [Smith] Fried, the three-time Gold Glove winner, said Saturday. “He showed me a lot of grips and taught me how to throw it. I was able to take it from there.”
Manager Aaron Boone said he could “spin while he was asleep” Freed was on Saturday in a live batting practice session at Steinbrenner Field, which included attacking Austin Wells twice, and 7. They performed a lot of Arsenal on the pitch.
“It's always good to go back there and pour some competitive juices, put them in a box and get some people and see how yours is playing,” Tampa. said Fried, who had been facing the batsman for the second time since arriving at the club. “It's early, but I'm healthy. I can just check every box.”
Boone, who said he was a “sponge” since joining the organization in December, was encouraged by what he saw in the live session.
“I liked his intentions, his focus and his competition,” Boone said. “We worked on what he wanted to work on. Things are really good. He's in a good place.”
The day after Brian Cashman said he wanted to sign an extension to Boone by the end of his spring training, the manager reflected that sentiment.
“We hope we get it done,” Boone said. “There's no place in this team, this organization, before this fanbase, where we want to do that with this team. Hopefully, we'll reach the finish line with it. It's certainly optimistic and hopeful. .”
Marcus Stroman threw “over 40 pitches” during Saturday's bullpen session. It's my first session after skipping the first two days of camp.
“[There was] The thing was really clear with the pace,” Boone said. “You can say he's ready to go. The commands were really good, the strength was good, the pitch was all solid. He looks like he's in a good place. ”
Yerry de los Santos was in big league camp with the Yankees last year, but this time he had his eyes open early.
Added to the 40-man roster during the offseason, the reliever made late-season improvements with Triple A, who showed himself during live batting practice on Saturday afternoon.
“I thought [he] Boone spoke about the 27-year-old who threw sinkers, sliders and splitters and pitched in the big leagues for the pirates before.
Jonathan Roashga threw about 20 pitches in Saturday's light bullpen session. He continues to recover from UCL surgery.
