Concern surrounding the New York Yankees rotation grew Wednesday after ace left-hander Max Fried exited his start against the Baltimore Orioles because of discomfort in his pitching elbow.
According to the team, Fried was removed with what was described as posterior soreness in his left elbow. He is scheduled to undergo additional evaluation Thursday in New York, including imaging and an examination by the Yankees’ medical staff to determine the extent of the issue.
Fried lasted only three innings before leaving the game. The veteran threw 61 pitches while surrendering five hits and three earned runs. He also walked one batter and recorded two strikeouts during the abbreviated outing.
Early speculation suggested Fried may have been dealing with a blister problem after reliever Paul Blackburn started getting loose before the fourth inning. Blisters have interrupted Fried multiple times throughout his career, but the Yankees later clarified the problem involved his elbow, creating far greater concern for the club moving forward.
The injury scare comes during what had been another productive season for the lefty. Fried entered Wednesday with a 4-2 record and a 2.91 ERA across 10 starts.
Durability has long followed Fried throughout his career. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2014 and has also battled forearm issues, hamstring trouble, and recurring blister problems over several seasons.
New York committed heavily to Fried before the 2025 campaign, signing him to an eight-year, $218 million contract.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].