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Jun 04, 2012 - Jun 06, 2012     
TBD - ,
Max Fried
LHP 1B, OF 6-3 170   L/L
FB
60
40
OF
IF
1B
C
Pop
Range
CB
SL
CH
Split
Knuckle
2/8/12: The first time I saw Max Fried pitch was when he was 16-years old and throwing at the Area Code Games in 2010 after finishing his sophomore year. It was obvious to me at that point that he was a very strong candidate to become a first round draft pick in two years despite the fact that he was pitching in the mid 80s with his fastball. Here are my notes: FB 85-87, CB 75, Chg 77. Very nice/projectable 6-3, 170 lb build, + clean delivery, easy arm, big power CB with ++ spin, going to be nasty when he's throwing 92 with a hammer, nice feel for change, going to be a top guy. I anticipated that Fried would get bigger than he was at that point, which he hasn’t and probably won’t, as he strongly resembles his father, a tall and slender man, physically. On the other hand, I wasn’t aware that Fried is an above average athlete with 6.8 speed and college level hitting skills when he isn’t on the mound. He also played three years of varsity basketball before not playing as a senior. Fried’s fastball velocity has improved over the last 18 months, although it’s more of a secondary part of his prospect status. He’s touched 94 mph at times but is more comfortable pitching in the 90-91 area and letting his location and movement work for him. Fried pitched at 87-90/92 in a five inning start in early February and neither of the scouts I talked to batted an eye his fastball velocity; it was just fine with them. Interestingly, Fried’s curveball velocity has not improved at the same time his fastball velocity has moved up by five mph, but that still doesn’t prevent it from being perhaps the best curveball in the 2012 class. On any given pitch Lucas Giolito or Lance McCullers can break off a harder and nastier breaking ball, but the size, bite and consistency of Fried’s curveball, plus the fact it’s coming from southpaw, puts Fried’s in the same category. If he started throwing it 80 mph then there wouldn’t be any question. Regardless, it’s a plus pitch at the next level. The same applies to Fried’s changeup; it projects as being a plus big league pitch, especially when taken in the context of accompanying a plus curveball and low 90s fastball. The best comparison for Fried would be Giants LHP Barry Zito. It’s easy to pile on Zito right now and think that is a negative comparison after he has gone 43-61 after signing a $126M contract in 2007. But remember that Zito was the ninth pick in the 1999 draft, won the Cy Young in 2002 as a 24-year old while going 23-5 with Oakland, and overall went 102-63 in his six plus years with the A’s. Fried made unexpected news this summer when his high school, Montclair Prep, announced that it was closing after one more year and immediately dropped all sports programs due to financial problems. That left Fried in the unusual position of being a high school free agent with both the necessity and latitude to choose another high school for his senior season. He choose to join his San Gabriel Valley Arsenal teammate Giolito at Harvard-Westlake High School, thus forming perhaps the most impressive one-two high school pitching duo at one school since Clint Everts (fifth overall pick) and Scott Kazmir (15th overall) pitched at Cy Falls High School in Houston in 2002. It also put Harvard-Westlake, already a powerful program without both Fried's arm and bat, in position to potentially be the top team in the country. Not only do Fried and Giolito have a chance to best Everts/Kazmir as the highest pair of drafted high school pitching teammates ever, they could challenge SS Mike Moustakas (second pick in 2007) and 3B Matt Dominguez (12th) as the highest drafted pair of high school teammates in history. Moustakas and Dominguez attended Chatsworth High School, only 17 miles from Harvard-Westlake.




Aug 14, 2011 - Aug 14, 2011   West  
PETCO Park - San Diego, CA
Max Fried
LHP 1B, OF 6-3 170   L/L
FB
94
60
40
OF
IF
1B
C
Pop
Range
CB
SL
CH
Split
Knuckle




Aug 05, 2011 - Aug 10, 2011     
Blair Field - Long Beach, CA
Max Fried
LHP 1B, OF 6-3 170   L/L
FB
93
60
40
OF
IF
1B
C
Pop
Range
88-93
CB
75
SL
CH
79
Split
Knuckle




Jul 09, 2011 - Jul 15, 2011   SGV Arsenal  32
East Cobb Complex - Marietta, GA
Max Fried
LHP 1B, OF 6-3 170   L/L
FB
60
40
OF
IF
1B
C
Pop
Range
CB
SL
CH
Split
Knuckle




Jun 16, 2011 - Jun 19, 2011   10-Texas Orange  4
City of Palms Park - Ft. Myers, FL
Max Fried
LHP 1B, OF 6-4 165   L/L
FB
92
60
6.87
40
OF
IF
1B
C
Pop
Range
88-92
CB
75
SL
CH
82
Split
Knuckle
Related Scout Blogs 
Max Fried is a 2012 LHP/1B with a 6-4 165 lb. frame from Encino, CA who attends Montclair Prep. Profile pitchers build, still plenty of room to get stronger. Slow paced leg lift delivery, smooth mechanics, high 3/4's arm slot, fast and loose arm. Fastball to 92 mph, late hard sinking action at times. Hard curveball spin, sharp downer bite, potential plus pitch, not consistent yet on curveball release, still developing confidence in change up. Pitches to the bottom of the strike zone with intent. Was 84-87 mph last year, still hasn't reached physical ceiling. Very quick and athletic off the mound, 6.87 runner. Sound hitting mechanics, good looking swing, squares the ball up well, has hitting tools with more strength. Good student, verbal commitment to UCLA. Named to the Perfect Game All American Classic team.
PG Grade 10.0




Baseball Web TV Video | See this player's personally updated Skillshow ACT profile & videos ACT Profile
Max Fried 60 2011 National Showcase
Max Fried Hitting 2011 National Showcase
Max Fried P 2011 National Showcase
Aug 05, 2010 - Aug 10, 2010     
Blair Field - Long Beach, CA
Max Fried
LHP 1B, OF     L/L
FB
87
60
7.08
40
OF
IF
1B
C
Pop
Range
85-87
CB
74
SL
CH
77
Split
Knuckle