Fried, Bregman Unable to Play in All-Star Game

It has become a guessing game as to which MLB All-Stars will actually play — and if so, for how long — in the Midsummer Classic. Whether it’s position players being overly cautious to not exacerbate lingering injuries or pitchers not inclined to take the mound on short rest, the MLB All-Star Game doesn’t necessarily showcase the game’s biggest stars or players fans are most interested in watching.

Though no Jewish players took the field during this year’s All-Star Game, the Jewish community was nevertheless well represented with the inclusion of Jewish All-Stars Max Fried and Alex Bregman, who were teammates for the American League, representing the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, respectively.

As Fried had last pitched on July 12 against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field and was once again battling blister issues, there was never any chance he would pitch for the AL All-Stars at his old home of Truist Park. But his All-Star unavailability didn’t diminish his thus far marvelous first season in New York.

“He’s been awesome,” AL All-Star manager Aaron Boone commented about Fried, whom he also manages for the Yankees, in his postgame press conference. “He was certainly a strong case to start this game. That’s how good he’s been. When you consider what Tarik [Skubal]’s been and [Garrett] Crochet and Hunter Brown and beyond, you know, Max has been right there in the mix. He’s been dominant. He’s done a great job. If we’ve had a losing streak, he’s the guy we wanted to have the ball.

“He’s certainly elevated our club and pitched like an absolute ace.”

Fried came into All-Star Week sporting an 11-3 record and 2.43 ERA and is on track for what would be his finest season ever. That’s saying a lot.

“Max meant so much to this organization and our success,” Braves’ manager Brian Snitker said about his erstwhile ace during All-Star media day. “The guy’s never satisfied, he’s always trying to get better. Unbelievable talent. Great person, makeup, the whole thing. I was actually hoping that he would be the American League starter in this thing.”

Speaking to the media the day before the All-Star Game, Fried was a bundle of emotions as he reflected on his weeklong return to Atlanta (the blisters hindered him from pitching in the ensuing Yankees-Braves series at Truist Park) and journey to New York City.

“I would say it’s been a crazy week just leading up to it [All-Star Game],” said Fried, who was able to catch up briefly with former teammates, Matt Olson and Chris Sale, upon arriving in town. “I haven’t had much time to process my emotions, but I know that it’s going to be really cool. I’m excited to get onto the field for the first time and be able to see staff and different people that work in the stadium.”

With the Yankees playing at Truist immediately after the four-day All-Star break, Fried was back in Atlanta for the entire week. Though it was full of festivities, workouts, and games, there was still time to revisit his old haunts.

“I would say that I personally just love – I have some spots that I go to whether it’s like little coffeeshops or things of that nature,” Fried shared. “So, I think just going to the old stomping grounds and places that I [went to] when I was here, I’m going to be excited to be able to do that.”

The Yankees’ ancient rivals, the Red Sox, have weathered an up-and-down season derailed by injuries to critical players, including Bregman, who suffered a right quad injury that landed him on the injured list on May 23. At the time, Bregman, in his first season with the Red Sox, was Boston’s most potent bat, hitting .299 with 11 homers and 35 RBIs. Though he did not return until just before the All-Star break, Bregman’s impressive early production warranted his third All-Star selection and first since 2019.

“Oh yeah, it’s a tremendous honor, especially to be voted in by my peers,” acknowledged Bregman, who was indeed selected by his fellow big-leaguers to be the AL’s reserve third baseman, but elected not to play so he could get some extra rest. “You come to two early in your career . . . you can never take it for granted, obviously. Such a tremendous honor to be here and to be back after a few years of not being here, it’s been awesome. A lot of hard work has gone into it. A lot of people have made this possible, [people I] trained with or players or coaches that have helped along the way. Super thankful to be here.”

Perhaps Fried’s and Bregman’s potential contributions would have led to a different outcome than the eventual 7-6 National League win, courtesy of the first-ever swing-off. Meanwhile, two of the Braves’ three All-Stars (starting pitcher Chris Sale did not participate) did factor into the NL’s victorious evening as starting right fielder Ronald Acuna, Jr. in the first inning reached on an infield single and came around to score his squad’s second run on a two-run double by Ketel Marte, Arizona’s second baseman who last month was ruthlessly taunted by a fan over his late mother. Though Matt Olson struck out in his only plate appearance and committed an error in the top of the seventh, the NL All-Star first baseman, who also competed in the prior evening’s Home Run Derby, made a sharp defensive play in the ninth inning by snaring a sizzling grounder down the first-base line that at the time prevented the tying run from scoring.

Drawing easily the most boisterous ovations from the Truist crowd during pregame introductions, Olson and Acuna Jr. were playing in their third and fifth All-Star Games, respectively. Though Acuna, Jr.’s contract with the Braves runs only three more years, the 2023 NL MVP hopes to represent the Braves in All-Star Games well into his 30s and the 2030s — just like Olson.