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Atlanta Braves prospects show dominance in AFL

By Alan Carpenter

MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 01: Max Fried #61 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during a game against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on October 1, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 01: Max Fried #61 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during a game against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on October 1, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FL – OCTOBER 01: Max Fried #61 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during a game against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on October 1, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – OCTOBER 01: Max Fried #61 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during a game against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on October 1, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Now the Pitch

You might have expected a pitcher who already has some major league experience to dominate on the mound in this league.  But when he does – and then exceeds most expectations, then that can tell you something as well.

Max Fried finished 6th in the league in ERA at 1.73.  His WHIP was 4th overall at 0.88.

These numbers were achieved over 26 innings on the mound.  Not a lot in the grand scheme of things, but…

  • 26 innings was 3rd-ranked overall (27.2 was #1)
  • Of all those pitchers besting his ERA and WHIP, none had more than 23.2 innings, and most significantly fewer (like half in several cases).
  • More importantly was his K/BB rate.  32 strikeouts (leading the league) and just 8 walks.

More from Tomahawk Take

Only a couple of pitchers bested that K/BB ratio.  One was old friend Max Povse (25/6), but his WHIP was 1.32 and his ERA 4.56.

The other was Kyle McGowin of the Nationals (27/0!), except that his WHIP was nearly double that of Fried at 1.50, along with an ERA close to 5.

Fried baffled batters all along – giving up only 15 hits in those 26 innings… his pitching was just as overpowering as Acuna’s hitting was on the other side of the ball.  If they gave out hardware for that role, he’d certainly have been the Cy Young award winner for this edition of the AFL.

Think he wants to be in the rotation come Spring?  You bet – I think Fried made a statement.

The Arizona League is now over for 2017… and Braves’ prospects got a taste of “winning” in addition to these great performances.

UPDATE:  Just after this was posted, Baseball America posted their last “hot sheet” for the AFL.  On it, Acuna was their #1 player with Fried #3.  Just more confirmation of what we already knew.

Next: Braves are Officially a Hart-less Organization

Can’t wait for February and Spring ball!

Home/Braves Prospects