Yankees’ Max Fried becomes best Gold Glove pitcher in worst defensive year

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NEW YORK — Max Fried earned his fourth career Gold Glove Award on Sunday night, but this one came with a twist. The Yankees left-hander also made more fielding errors in 2025 than in any other season of his career.

The irony sums up Fried’s first year in pinstripes. He finished as the top defensive pitcher in Major League Baseball with 10 defensive runs saved, yet committed four errors along the way. The numbers tell two sides of the same story. Great defense, as Fried proved, is about more than avoiding mistakes.

This was Max Fried’s first Gold Glove as an American League pitcher after winning three straight with the Atlanta Braves from 2020 through 2022. At 31, he now owns more Gold Gloves than any other active pitcher. It confirms his reputation as baseball’s best defensive hurler — even in a season when the Yankees’ overall defense faltered.

Numbers highlight Fried’s complex season

Fried’s season on the mound featured sharp contrasts. Across 32 starts and 195.1 innings, he posted a .925 fielding percentage while recording 39 putouts and seven pickoffs, both personal bests.

Opponents stole only six bases against him all year. His quick reflexes and deceptive pickoff move kept runners close, reminding Yankees fans of Andy Pettitte’s famous move to first. Though stats like that rarely make headlines, they show how Fried controls the running game.

The four errors were the blemishes on an otherwise elite defensive record. According to FanGraphs, his 10 defensive runs saved led all pitchers in the majors. That metric values range, anticipation, and positioning — not just clean fielding. In other words, Fried’s defensive brilliance was about doing more right than he did wrong.

Yankees investment pays off

The Yankees signed Fried to a massive contract last winter, the richest ever for a left-handed pitcher. The deal showed their belief that he brought more than just strikeouts. They saw him as a complete player who could field his position and lead by example.

He proved them right. Fried led the majors with 19 wins and posted a 2.86 ERA with 189 strikeouts, both career highs. His .792 winning percentage topped the American League. With Gerrit Cole sidelined by elbow surgery, Fried carried the Yankees rotation almost singlehandedly.

His leadership helped stabilize a rotation hit hard by injuries. Under his guidance, the Yankees reached the World Series for the first time since 2009. Although they fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games, Fried’s performance left no doubt that he was worth the investment.

Gold Glove recognition expected

Fried’s name was already circulating among experts before Sunday’s announcement. A week earlier, he won the 2025 Fielding Bible Award, which honors the best defensive players at each position across all of baseball. That award relies on advanced metrics and video review, and it often predicts the Gold Glove results.

The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, first presented in 1957, is based on a combination of voting and analytics. Managers and coaches account for 75 percent of the vote, while statistical data makes up the remaining 25 percent. Voters are restricted to their own league and cannot vote for their own players.

Fried’s selection came as no surprise to those who had watched him all season. He dominated in every measurable defensive category, even in what was statistically the worst fielding year of his career.

Yankees join exclusive list

Fried became just the fourth Yankees pitcher to win a Gold Glove. The last was Mike Mussina in 2008, 17 years ago. Before Mussina, the honor went to Ron Guidry during his peak years in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The rarity underscores Fried’s achievement. Few Yankees pitchers have managed to combine elite pitching and gold-standard defense in the same season.

Before Fried, the most recent Yankee to win any Gold Glove was shortstop Anthony Volpe in 2023. The franchise has produced legendary defenders over the decades, but fielding excellence has often been overshadowed by offensive power. Fried’s win restores some balance to that legacy.

Among baseball’s elite defenders

Fried’s 2025 honor puts him in elite company. He joined Cleveland’s Steven Kwan and Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ as four-time Gold Glove winners. Kwan’s feat was particularly historic — he has earned a Gold Glove in each of his first four seasons, the third-longest streak to start a career. Only Ichiro Suzuki and Nolan Arenado began their careers with longer runs, each winning 10 straight.

Happ also had an impressive season, finishing with plus-9 defensive runs saved for the Cubs. In total, nine players across the majors won their first Gold Gloves this year, including Detroit catcher Dillon Dingler and Boston’s rookie center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela.

Complete list of 2025 Gold Glove Award winners

American League

National League

The Platinum Glove awards, recognizing the best overall defensive player in each league, will be announced November 7.

A Gold Glove year despite the errors

Fried’s four errors might stand out on paper, but they tell only part of the story. His defensive runs saved, quick reflexes, and smart positioning proved his value on the field. The Yankees ace once again showed that the best defenders aren’t always the ones who never make mistakes — they’re the ones who make the biggest plays when it matters.

Fried’s trophy case now holds four Gold Gloves and counting. In a year where the Yankees struggled defensively, his consistency stood apart. He gave the Bronx a rare bright spot in a season defined by ups and downs.

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