Max Fried Debuts for Yankees in 20-9 Blowout, Faces Defensive Struggles

Max Fried's debut for the New York Yankees on Saturday ended in a mixed bag as the team secured a 20-9 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, but his performance was marred by defensive lapses. Fried pitched 4.2 innings, allowing six runs—only two earned—while striking out four, as the Yankees committed five errors during the game, complicating his outing. Despite the shaky defense, New York's offense exploded, setting a franchise record with nine home runs, including four in the first inning. Fried, who signed an eight-year, $218 million contract in the offseason, acknowledged the challenges of his debut and expressed a desire to improve in future outings. The Yankees will need to bolster their infield defense to maximize Fried's potential as a groundball pitcher. Overall, while Fried's performance was not ideal, the team's offensive firepower helped mask the defensive shortcomings on this occasion.