With Aaron Judge already set to start the All-Star Game in right field for the American League, teammates Max Fried and Jazz Chisholm Jr. found out they’ll be joining the Yankees’ captain following Sunday’s win over the Mets.
Fried was voted to his third Midsummer Classic by his fellow players, while Chisholm will attend the exhibition for the second time after being selected by the league office. For Fried, the July 15 contest will make for a homecoming, as this year’s All-Star Game will take place at Truist Park in Atlanta.
Fried spent the first eight years of his career with the Braves before signing an eight-year, $218 million contract with the Yankees over the winter. He said he had not thought too hard about the possibility of pitching in Atlanta, as he had to worry about starting on Sunday at Citi Field.
“I’m sure over the next couple days, the next week, it’ll be able to sink in a little bit more,” the lefty said. “Obviously, I spent my whole big league career there, and it means a lot, so it’ll be cool to be able to see some familiar faces and be in the stadium that I was in for the first part of my career.”
After allowing three earned runs over five innings in Sunday’s Subway Series finale, Fried now has an 11-2 record and 2.27 ERA over 19 starts. No pitcher has more wins, though fellow American Leaguers Hunter Brown, Tarik Skubal and Jacob deGrom all have better ERAs.
While the competition is strong, Fried may have an advantage when it comes to starting the All-Star Game.
That’s because Aaron Boone, assisted by the Yankees’ coaching staff, will manage the American League in the game after leading the Bombers to a pennant last season. However, it doesn’t sound like Fried, who has stepped up for the Yankees with Gerrit Cole sidelined by Tommy John surgery, will lobby his skipper on the issue.
“There’s a lot of guys throwing the ball really well,” the pitcher said with a smile. “So that’s his decision.”
Chisholm, meanwhile, is looking forward to the red carpet, an annual tradition for All-Star festivities.
“That’s my thing, so I do have a fit in mind, but you guys just gotta see it,” the fashionista said.
The out-of-position third baseman had an uphill battle to make the All-Star team, as he strained his oblique at the end of April and didn’t return until June 3. He was hitting just .181 at the time.
However, Chisholm has been on a tear since coming off the injured list, hitting .308 with a .969 OPS, eight home runs and 21 RBI.
“It’s pretty great,” he said. :You work hard, and to get the recognition is amazing.”
Chisholm is batting .245 with an .841 OPS, 15 homers, 38 RBI and 10 stolen bases overall. He sat on Sunday, as his shoulder has been bugging him for about three weeks.
In addition to the red carpet, Chisholm said he is thrilled to be going to Atlanta alongside Fried, Judge and other Yankees. When he made the National League team as a Marlin in 2022, only he and Sandy Alcantara represented Miami.
“I feel like it’s going to be a great time, especially with Judgey,” Chisholm said. “We already have a lot of fun here, so I can’t wait to have fun with him at the festivities in Atlanta.”
Judge, working on another MVP campaign, shared similar thoughts. He’s also hoping a few more Yankees players join him, Chisholm and Fried.
“It’s been incredible what Max has done for us coming over here, coming into a big market,” Judge said. “Signing a big deal as a free agent, it’s always tough, a lot of pressure, a lot of expectations. And he’s definitely exceeded a lot of guys’ expectations. He’s been a huge piece to the success we’ve had all season being our ace and being the front line of this pitching staff.
“What Jazz has been doing all year, hitting the ball over the field, making some great plays, I’m excited for both of them to be in Atlanta. They both deserve it, and hopefully we can grab a couple more guys in this room.”
