Jewish Braves Pitcher Opens Season

Atlanta Braves pitcher Max Fried, who is Jewish, threw the first pitch of the season for the team in Philadelphia April 1, and pitched for five innings. The Braves ultimately lost to the Phillies 3-2 in 10 innings.
Fried kept the Braves in the game by only allowing two runs during his time on the mound, permitting 11 base runners and striking out eight. The only Jewish player on the team didn’t have a great outing though, hitting a runner in the first inning, which loaded the bases. He handed the ball over to Tyler Matzek for the sixth inning.
The Braves ended up losing in extra innings, as an automatic runner on second base, a new extra-innings rule by the MLB, scored for the Phillies.
Braves Manager Brian Snitker said in a press conference after the game that Fried, “was having a hard time finishing off,” but that he still, “did what good pitchers do and gave us a chance to win.” He went on to say that it was “an encouraging outing” by Fried.
The Jewish pitcher told the Associated Press that, “I didn’t feel like I was really sharp. I was grinding out there, trying to keep us in the game.”
Fried is believed the first Jewish pitcher to be opening day starter in 40 years. He has become one of the Braves’ best pitchers since a shaky 2019, helping to lead the team to the National League Championship Season last year.
Fried is likely to be a key part of the rotation for the Braves this season as they attempt to return to the NLCS and go farther than they did last season.

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