New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone dropped some big information on the team’s Opening Day plans, and now the team has confirmed it.
Boone told reporters last week that Max Fried was penciled in as starter for the team’s opening game, with the team following it up this week with some big news on their ace.
Yankees Share Max Fried News
The Yankees took to social media on Wednesday to solidify the Opening Day lineup, sharing an image of Fried and a blunt message about the game against the Baltimore Orioles.
“This time next week. Max on the mound,” the team shared in a post on X.
Boone was asked earlier this month about whether Fried would be taking the mound in the team’s first game against the San Francisco Giants.
âItâll be Max, yeah,â Boone told NJ.com.
Boone said he was confident that the team’s ace would be sharp in the March conditions.
âHe knows how to work and he knows how to prepare, and thatâs all year round,” Boone said.
Fried told reporters at the time that he was excited to take the mound, but said it was an unusual Spring Training since so many of the team’s players were in the midst of the World Baseball Classic.
âIâm definitely looking forward, knowing that the beginning of the season is quick,â Fried said before the decision was announced. âIt feels a little weird because weâve got a bunch of guys still going in the [World Baseball] Classic and being able to watch that. Weâre just doing what we need to do every day to get ready for Game 1.â
Fried is a veteran of Opening Day, taking the mound for the Atlanta Braves four times for their season opener. He pitched for the Yankees in their second game of the 2025 season, with Carlos Rodon getting the start on Opening Day.
He had a strong outlook on the Yankees’ staff, saying it’s a deep unit with plenty of talent.
âWeâve got a lot of really good, talented arms,â Fried said. âGuys are throwing the ball well and feeling good. This time of year, thatâs all you can ask for.â
Max Fried Looking to Follow Up Big Season
Fried joined the Yankees in 2025 on an eight-year, $218 million contract, and quickly justified the big investment. He set a career high with 32 starts, winning a career-best 19 games as he went 19-5 with a 2.86 ERA.
Fried had some struggles in his final Spring Training start, however, allowing three runs on five hits with four walks against the Baltimore Orioles.
Fried didn’t stress over the difficulties, saying he felt good about the adjustments he made during the game.
âDefinitely not sharp, but also the perfect amount of being able to make that adjustment,â said Fried, via SNY.
Fried added that he was still in Spring Training mode, trying out some things that he wouldn’t normally do during the regular season.
âI would rather, in this situation, have a little bit more traffic on the bases, taking the chances,â Fried said. âSomething maybe I would not do during the regular season to push those boundaries and get feedback in a not completely results-based game.â
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