Max Fried Worth The Wait For Braves

KISSIMMEE, Fla.—Taking part in his first big league camp, lefthander Max Fried wasted no time making a positive impression.

The 23-year-old appeared as a reliever in the sixth inning against the Tigers and promptly retired Miguel Cabrera and J.D. Martinez on groundouts and struck out Justin Upton. His fastball touched 95 mph and his curveball featured sharp break.

“Just being able to go out there and compete and play again is so special,” said Fried, who missed most of 2014 and all of 2015 after having Tommy John surgery. “At the end of last season it was a little tough to have to go home because I was hitting my stride for the first time in my career. But I’m looking forward to having all of that continue.”

Selected seventh overall in 2012 by the Padres, Fried struggled early in his career before the Los Angeles prep product was traded to the Braves after the 2014 season as part of the deal that sent Upton to San Diego.

One of several high-upside prospects acquired by general manager John Coppolella, Fried showed last year at low Class A Rome how electric he can be when healthy. He made 21 appearances and went 8-7, 3.93 with 112 strikeouts in 103 innings.

“Last year I went through a phase where I was relearning myself,” Fried said. “Taking a couple of years off due to an injury isn’t the most ideal situation. Then trying to go out and compete when you haven’t done that in a long time is definitely tough.

“During the second half I started to feel like myself and really got comfortable on the mound.”

Fried said both his fastball and curveball were inconsistent in terms of velocity and location in the first half. By the end of the year he felt both offerings were as good as ever.

The key now is for Fried to continue fine-tuning his pitches and to make adjustments. He believes his added maturity and healthy arm should lead to more success.

WIGWAM WISPS

• Braves manager Brian Snitker liked what he saw from righthanded reliever Akeel Morris in his spring debut. He keeps hitters off balance with an outstanding changeup.

• The Braves reached an agreement with Sarasota County to relocate their spring headquarters to North Point, Fla., in 2019. The $75.4 million facility would include a 6,500-seat stadium, six practice fields and two half-fields.

— Bill Ballew is a writer based in North Carolina