Max Fried quickly immersed himself in the world of the New York Yankees. His initial press conference felt more like an afterthought, as it revolved around disgruntled pitcher Marcus Stroman, whom Fried hadn’t met yet, missing from spring training workouts. However, on Saturday, Fried finally had the chance to properly introduce himself and showcase his pitching skills at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

At the heart of Fried’s arsenal is his curveball, widely regarded as one of the best—if not the best—in baseball. Coupled with his ability to induce ground balls, it has helped elevate him to the position of the highest-paid left-handed pitcher in history. Wearing number 54 on his jersey, Fried took the mound for his first live session against hitters in front of teammates, coaches, and manager Aaron Boone. Boone was immediately impressed, commenting, “His stuff is really good, but it’s also his mix of pitches and their movement. It’s been fun to see up close how much his pitches move, and ultimately, he’s great at staying off the barrel.”

Fried’s curveball is known for its incredible vertical drop—67 inches compared to the average 53 inches. Baseball Savant also highlights his curveball’s impressive 11-inch horizontal movement when thrown to a right-handed batter. Fried’s fastball, clocking in at an average of 74.6 mph, is about 20 mph slower than his curveball. Batters have struggled against his curveball, managing just a .154 batting average, 57 strikeouts, and only seven extra-base hits in 130 at-bats.

Yankees’ ace Gerrit Cole praised Fried as an exceptional addition to the team, calling him “a really unique talent.” Cole also lauded Fried’s focused approach, noting how his concentration is evident every time he takes the mound. “It’s been a pleasure to see him work,” Cole said, clearly impressed by the new Yankee’s professionalism and skill set.