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Atlanta Braves place star LHP Max Fried on the 15-Day Injured List
Introduction
On Tuesday, May 9th, 2023 the Atlanta Braves announced that they are placing their super star left - handed starting pitcher, Max Fried, on the 15 - day injured list due to a left forearm strain. This Atlanta Braves recent roster move is now the 2nd - trip to the injured list this season for the Braves ace pitcher in Fried, who also managed to miss a total of 2 - weeks back in April of 2023 following him suffering a hamstring injury on Opening Day of the 2023 MLB season.
No Major Structural Damage
Max mentioned prior to the Atlanta Braves game against the Boston Red Sox last Tuesday night that he was extremely relieved that his MRI on left arm revealed no structural damage with his elbow which could have resulted in season ending surgery. Fried had to undergo Tommy John surgery on his throwing arm way back in 2014.
Recovery Time
"Now it's just about letting the muscle heal and rest," the Atlanta Braves starting LHP, Max Fried explained. "It's a long season. It's obviously really tough because I want to be out there, and I want to pitch. It suddenly felt different than the usual soreness."
It's possible Fried's rest and rehabilitation period may last well beyond the initial 15 - day IL stint as it could possibly take multiple weeks for his throwing arm to get back to Major League Baseball pitching condition. Max stated that currently there is no exact timetable on his return to the Atlanta Braves starting pitcher rotation.
The Atlanta Braves told the major sports media outlets that the 15 - day injured list stint for Fried is retroactive to May 6th, 2023 which is just one day following Max's last big - league start Friday, May 5th, 2023 versus the Baltimore Orioles. During Fried’s most recent starting pitching assignment he allowed his season - high 5 - earned runs in 6 - plus innings vs. the Baltimore Orioles as well as Max committing 2 - throwing errors.
Max revealed that he is very relieved that his injury is not more serious and it should not keep him out of the Atlanta Braves line - up for only several weeks so it could be much worse for the Braves’ ace lefty. The Atlanta Braves manager, Brian Snitker, exclaimed the diagnosis of a strain as, "the best possible outcome, possibly. You [hate] to lose him, obviously."
Fried was not officially listed by the Atlanta Braves as a starting pitcher for this week's series versus the Boston Red Sox, and manager Snitker explained to reporters last Sunday, May 7th, 2023 that the Atlanta Braves were, "working through things," when he was asked about Fried's availability after his Max’s last start on the mound.
The 29 - year - old Max hold an over record of 2 and 1 to go along with his very impressive ERA of 2.08 over Fried’s 5 - starts so far during the 2023 MLB season. This is currently Max’s 7th -season with the Atlanta Braves. Fried finished in 2nd - place in voting for the National League Cy Young Award last year after going 14 and 7 with an ERA of 2.48, but lost his salary arbitration case versus the Atlanta Braves earlier this year, and he will make $13.5 million for the 2023 MLB season instead of his requested $15 million salary.
Replacement for the Immediate Future
In terms of replacing Fried one of their best possible options would perhaps be Jared Shuster who is potentially the leading choice to be recalled up to the majors from Triple - A Gwinnett. Shuster is a left - handed starting pitcher who began the season with the Atlanta Braves prior to posting the terrible ERA of 8.31 over his 2 big - league starts that ultimately led to Jared being sent down to the Atlanta Braves AAA affiliate. Presently Shuster is carrying an ERA of 2.37 in his 4 - starting pitching assignments in Gwinnett.
Dylan Dodd and Michael Soroka are other possible options to be recalled up to Atlanta to play for the Braves while Max recovers on the injured list. Soroka just so happened to be the Atlanta Braves opening day starting pitcher back in 2020. Soroka is attempting to complete his major league comeback after suffering 2 - tears of his right Achilles tendon which does take a long time to recover from.
On the other hand, Dylan Dodd is a left - handed starting pitcher with a record of 2 and 1 while possessing an ERA of 6.46 over his 3 - starts with the Atlanta Braves so far during the young 2023 Major League Baseball season.
The Atlanta Braves 2023 MLB Season
Fried is the 2nd - Atlanta Braves starting pitcher to hit the MLB injured list as he joins the Atlanta Braves’ right - hander, Kyle Wright, who is sidelined right now due to shoulder soreness. The Atlanta Braves have yet to officially announce who will join their starting pitcher rotation alongside Spencer Strider, Charlie Morton, and Bryce Elder, but rookie left - handers Dodd and Shuster both started games MLB games approximately a month ago when Fried and Wright were both out.
Left-hander Danny Young was also called up from Triple - A Gwinnett in a corresponding roster move last Tuesday, May 9th, 2023.
Fried’s Baseball Career Achievements, Honors, & Awards
- MLB All - Star Selection (2022)
- World Series Champion (2021)
- All - MLB First - Team Selection (2020)
- 2 - Time All - MLB Second - Team Selection (2021, 2022)
- 3 - Time Gold Glove Award Winner (2020, 2021, 2022)
- Silver Slugger Award Winner (2021)
- 2 - Time Fielding Bible Award Winner (2020, 2021)
Sources:
“Braves ace Max Fried placed on IL with strained left forearm”, espn.com, May 9, 2023.
“Max Fried”, baseball-reference.com, May 11, 2023.