The Yankees’ recent struggles might have fans reaching for their lucky caps, but there’s one name that keeps surfacing as a beacon of hope: Max Fried. While the Bronx Bombers have stumbled through inconsistent performances and blown seven leads in the eighth inning or later, Fried has posted a solid 3.12 ERA across his last eight starts. The southpaw’s ability to average 6.2 innings per outing while limiting opponents to a .241 batting average has become the foundation upon which the Yankees hope to build their turnaround. Well, you know how it is in baseball – sometimes you need that one guy who can calm the storm.

When someone within the organization starts drawing comparisons to Clayton Kershaw, you know they’re seeing something special. The comparison caught everyone’s attention, and honestly, it makes perfect sense when you dig deeper – both lefties boast exceptional control and elite defensive metrics.

Brad Ausmus didn’t hold back when discussing Max Fried’s impact on the team, explaining that both pitchers bring something beyond just throwing strikes. Want to take any guess what that might be? It’s the complete package – the leadership, the defensive prowess, and that burning desire to win that separates good players from great ones.

The praise from Ausmus was nothing short of glowing when he described Fried’s approach to the game. “He is our stopgap. If things aren’t going well, we’re always, regardless of what’s happening, feeling good about Max on the mound,” Ausmus explained. “He’s actually… He’s similar to Kershaw in the sense that pitching isn’t the only important thing. If you’ve seen this guy feel his position, he’s phenomenal, and he takes pride in it, and he truly does want to win.” He went on to highlight Fried’s maturity: “A lot of times it takes players a while because, you know, this is their livelihood. They want to make money and want to support their families, but at some point it clicks, like, Hey, we need to win and we’re all better off if we do, and this guy really, really wants to win.”

Yankees’ Max Fried earns All-Star recognition

Max Fried dominates opposing hitters and secures his spot on the 2025 American League All-Star roster through sheer excellence. The southpaw joins Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr. as the Yankees’ representatives, but Fried outshines expectations with his remarkable transformation since arriving in the Bronx. In 19 starts, Fried has pitched to an 11-2 record and 2.27 ERA, including a victory on Sunday over the Mets in which he assumed his familiar stopper role. His stellar debut season validates every dollar the organization invested in their eight-year, $218 million commitment. Fried is 9-1 with a 1.59 ERA (79 innings, 14 earned runs) in starts after a Yankees loss.

The All-Star selection allows Fried to make a triumphant return to Atlanta, where he spent eight years building his major league foundation. “I wasn’t really looking too far ahead, just because I had [Sunday’s] start to worry about,” Fried said. “But I’m sure over the next couple of days, it will be able to sink in a little more. I spent my whole big league career there, and it means a lot.” The pitcher embraces pressure and thrives on expectations that accompany wearing pinstripes, but acknowledges the emotional significance of returning to his former home.

Fried’s spectacular performance places him among the American League’s elite pitchers during his inaugural Yankees campaign. “I think it’ll be cool to see some familiar faces and be in the stadium that I was in for the first part of my career,” Fried reflected on his upcoming Atlanta return.

His leadership qualities radiate both on and off the field, while teammates consistently praise his relentless work ethic and competitive fire. The All-Star recognition, with the potential of being a starter, confirms what Yankees fans witness nightly – they acquired a genuine difference-maker who flourishes under baseball’s brightest spotlight.