Max Fried is a talented left-handed pitcher for the Atlanta Braves. He made his MLB debut in 2017 and has become one of the best pitchers in baseball. Fried relies on his diverse pitch arsenal and ability to mix speeds to keep hitters off balance. His fastball is especially noteworthy, as Fried can crank it up into the upper-90s when needed. This leads to an important question – what is Max Fried’s fastest recorded pitch speed?
Max Fried’s Pitching Background
Fried was originally drafted by the San Diego Padres in the first round of the 2012 MLB draft after a successful high school career. He made his professional debut that same year. After a couple seasons developing in the minor leagues, Fried was traded to the Atlanta Braves in 2014. He progressed quickly through the Braves farm system and made his MLB debut on August 5, 2017.
Since reaching the majors, Fried has emerged as one of the best young pitchers in baseball. The left-hander earned his first All-Star selection in 2019. In 2020, he helped lead the Braves to within one game of the World Series. Fried built on that success in 2021, going 14-7 with a 3.04 ERA and being named an All-Star for the second time. He has continued his excellence into 2022 at age 28.
Scouting Report on Max Fried’s Pitching
Fried throws four main pitches – a four-seam fastball, sinker, curveball, and changeup. His four-seam fastball sits in the 92-95 mph range on average. But as we’ll discuss shortly, Fried is capable of reaching back for more velocity when needed.
The lefty’s best offspeed pitch is his curveball. He throws it around 77-81 mph with sharp downward break. Fried uses his curve as his main putaway pitch. His changeup sits between 83-87 mph. While used sparingly, it gives batters another look. Fried occasionally mixes in a sinker around 90-93 mph.
Overall, Fried has an excellent four-pitch mix. He commands all his pitches well and sequences them intelligently to keep hitters guessing. But make no mistake, his fastball velocity plays a key role in his success.
Max Fried’s Fastest Pitch Speed in His Career
According to Statcast pitch tracking data, the fastest pitch Max Fried has thrown in an MLB game is 98.7 mph. He hit this velocity in the 1st inning against the St. Louis Cardinals on July 6, 2022. The pitch was a four-seam fastball to batter Dylan Carlson, who fouled it off.
This 98.7 mph fastball stands as the highest pitch velocity Fried has registered in the Statcast era (since 2015). For reference, his average four-seam fastball velocity is 93.6 mph. So this 98.7 mph pitch was roughly 5 mph faster than his normal fastball.
By reaching back and hurling a 98.7 mph heater, Fried showed how he can kick his fastball velocity up a notch in key situations. It’s an extra gear that makes his fastball even more dangerous.
Other Notable Max Fried Fastball Velocities
While 98.7 mph is Fried’s career high fastball speed, he has registered other extremely fast pitches over the years:
– 98.5 mph on August 1, 2020 vs. New York Mets
– 98.3 mph on April 19, 2022 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
– 98.2 mph on June 19, 2022 vs. Chicago Cubs
– 98.1 mph on April 24, 2021 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
– 97.9 mph on August 9, 2022 vs. Boston Red Sox
So Fried has topped 98 mph with his four-seamer on multiple occasions. These extremely fast pitches demonstrate Fried’s ability to reach back for extra velocity in short bursts. This is crucial for getting strikeouts in key situations.
Even when not throwing absolute max velocity fastballs, Fried has proven capable of sitting 95-97 mph when needing extra gas. This velocity range is still well above his season average fastball speed.
How Fried’s Max Pitch Speed Compares to Other MLB Pitchers
Among all the starting pitchers in Major League Baseball, Max Fried’s top fastball velocity of 98.7 mph puts him among the hardest throwers. However, it does not match the absolutely elite fireballers in baseball.
For comparison, here are the recorded top fastball speeds of some other notable MLB pitchers:
– Aroldis Chapman – 105.1 mph
– Jordan Hicks – 104.2 mph
– Jacob deGrom – 102.8 mph
– Shohei Ohtani – 101.1 mph
– Luis Severino – 100.2 mph
As you can see, the hardest throwing pitchers like Chapman, Hicks, and deGrom reach over 100 mph regularly. Fried does not rank quite near the top in terms of pure velocity.
However, 98.7 mph is still an extremely fast speed relative to most MLB pitchers. Fried’s maximum fastball would rank among the fastest on nearly every team. When combining his velocity with movement and command, Fried has an elite fastball for a starter.
Why Max Fried’s Fastball Velocity Matters
For a pitcher like Max Fried who relies heavily on a four-seam fastball, having high velocity is vital for success. The faster Fried throws, the less reaction time hitters have to track the ball out of his hand. A mid-90s fastball appears even faster to batters from Fried’s high release point as a 6’4″ left-hander.
By being able to reach back for 98+ mph occasionally, it makes Fried’s typical 92-95 mph fastball seem less daunting by comparison. This adds deception and makes his fastball more effective overall.
High velocity fastballs also result in more swings-and-misses, especially when paired with good movement. Fried uses his top-end speed to get strikeouts in key counts. Velocity gives him a weapon to put away batters with two strikes.
In summary, Fried’s ability to touch 98 mph sets him apart from other pitchers. It’s a tool he can utilize multiple times per game to get out of jams and record big strikeouts. Hitters must always be wary of Fried potentially uncorking an upper-90s fastball. This keeps them honest at the plate.
Factors Contributing to Max Fried’s Fastball Velocity
There are several factors that allow Max Fried to throw fastballs as hard as 98.7 mph:
Pitching Mechanics
Fried has excellent pitching mechanics. He uses his long 6’4″ frame to generate momentum into his delivery. Fried has a smooth, controlled windup and Gathering more momentum with the lower body and core allows Fried to impart more force on the ball, resulting in higher fastball velocity.
Strength and Athleticism
Fried has worked extensively over the years with the Braves training staff to get stronger. He came into the majors weighing around 190 lbs but has since added upper body muscle mass to around 210 lbs. This additional core, shoulder, and arm strength allows Fried to throw harder. He is also a naturally athletic player.
Arm Action
Scouts grade Fried’s arm action and shoulder rotation as very efficient. He repeats his delivery well, allowing energy to transfer cleanly through his arm into the ball. Smooth, efficient arm action results in maximized velocity.
Release Point
Fried utilizes his height to throw from a high 3/4 arm slot with downward plane. This makes it tough for batters to pick up the ball and creates extra fastball life. His release point closer to home plate reduces time for hitters to react.
Importance of Pitch Efficiency vs. Max Velocity
While Max Fried flashes extremely high velocity at times, he does not overexert himself every pitch trying to throw 100 mph. Doing so would put excessive strain on his arm and shoulder.
Instead, Fried focuses more on being efficient with each pitch. By staying smooth through his windup and delivery, he is able to locate pitches low in the zone consistently. This efficiency allows him to reach back for max velocity only when needed.
Trying to light up radar guns every single pitch could sacrifice command and movement. It also leads to quicker fatigue. Fried has found the right balance of using his velocity judiciously while maintaining his stamina.
Developing pitch efficiency early in games enables Fried to summon extra fastball speed later when facing a tough situation. His smart velocity use is a major factor in his success.
How Fried’s Velocity Changes as Games Progress
On average, Max Fried’s fastball velocity decreases slightly as games go on. This is a natural consequence of fatigue setting in. Maintaining peak velocity for 100+ pitches is impossible.
In the first inning of starts this season, Fried’s average four-seam velocity is 94.1 mph. By the middle innings, it drops to around 93.5 mph. In the 6th inning and beyond, Fried’s average fastball dips to 92.7 mph.
So over the course of a start, his velocity drops about 1-2 mph on average. The effect is more pronounced in longer outings. However, Fried has shown he can still reach back for 95+ mph fastballs late in games when needing to escape jams or get strikeouts.
The key is Fried doesn’t try to overexert himself early, so he has enough left in the tank to throw hard pitches in big late-game moments. His stamina and efficiency allow him to save peak velocity for when it matters most.
Max Fried’s MLB Success Relies on More than Just Fastball Velocity
While this article has focused a lot on Max Fried’s fastball speed, it’s important to note his success stems from more than just velocity. Superior command, movement, mixing pitches, and sequencing are also huge factors.
Fried would not be one of the best left-handed starters in MLB relying on fastball speed alone. He has become an elite pitcher by bringing a complete arsenal plus intelligence in setting up hitters. velocity. Hitters also cannot sit on a certain pitch or location, as Fried keeps them guessing by working both sides of the plate and changing eye levels.
In conclusion, Fried’s 98.7 mph max fastball gives glimpses of his immense potential. But his consistent excellence as a pitcher depends on far more than simply throwing hard. Speed is one tool utilized brilliantly within Fried’s broader pitching talents. Hitters who underestimate the rest of his skills do so at their own peril.
Key Takeaways on Max Fried’s Fastest Pitch
– Max Fried holds the Statcast pitch tracking era record for fastest pitch by registering 98.7 mph with his four-seam fastball.
– This occurred in 2022 against the St. Louis Cardinals when Fried reached back for extra velocity.
– While not matching the elite fireballers, Fried’s max fastball speed ranks among the fastest by any MLB starting pitcher.
– Hitting 98+ mph allows Fried to put away batters in key situations and brings a different dynamic to his 92-95 mph average fastball.
– Excellent mechanics and athleticism enable Fried to throw high heat when needed while maintain his stamina.
– Although velocity contributes greatly to Fried’s success, his pitching excellence stems from more than just speed.
Conclusion
Max Fried possesses one of the liveliest fastballs among MLB starters. His ability to touch 98+ mph gives him a weapon to record big strikeouts and get out of jams. This velocity does not define Fried, yet certainly makes him a tougher assignment for hitters.
Fried’s peak pitch speed of 98.7 mph shows how he can reach back for a little extra when the situation calls for it. While he doesn’t try throwing maximum velocity every pitch, having this upper limit in his back pocket makes his entire fastball repertoire more dangerous.
Moving forward, Braves fans can be excited to see Fried continue featuring his speedy heater as part of the lethal pitching arsenal that has made him an ace. Opposing batters are wise to keep their heads on a swivel, as they never know when a high-90s Fried fastball might be on the way.