The New York Yankees have had a busy offseason acquiring big stars to load their roster for the 2025 season. Some of those players include pitcher Max Fried from the Atlanta Braves, outfielder Cody Bellinger from the Chicago Cubs, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt from the St. Louis Cardinals and pitcher Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers.

Growing up in Encino, California, Max Fried had the privilege of learning from a seven-time All-Star and World Series champion. That would be Reggie Smith, who spent 17 seasons in the majors with the Red Sox,

Signed as free agent on an eight-year, $218 million contract, Max Fried joined a Yankees rotation that already featured Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt.

Max Fried has officially begun his time with the New York Yankees. On Thursday, we got our first look at Fried in Yankees gear as pictures emerged from the team's training facility in Tampa, Florida.

Max Fried learned his curveball from his “baseball mentor,” Reggie Smith, when he was a kid attending the longtime outfielder’s baseball academy in California. Nearly 20 years later, the pitch is a big reason why Fried landed an eight-year, $218 million contract from the Yankees.

Fried met Ron Guidry, a Yankees spring instructor, for the first time and is taking advantage of the 74-year-old's experience and wisdom.