MLB Season
Max Fried exited Wednesday's start after just three innings pitched. Greg Fiume / Getty Images
When the New York Yankees initially announced that Max Fried left Wednesday’s 7-0 loss to the Baltimore Orioles with posterior soreness in his left elbow, an orthopedic surgeon interviewed by The Athletic thought the designation was notable.
“They probably said that (posterior) because he’s had (a) previous Tommy John, and they didn’t want it to be confused with his prior Tommy John surgery,” said Dr. Laith Jazrawi, chief of sports medicine at NYU Langone. “That’s probably why they were a little more specific on this one. … Having posterior elbow pain in a pitcher or in an overhead athlete, there are certain things that are specific that we see with them.”
Jazrawi, who has not treated Fried nor seen his medicals, said posterior soreness isn’t “atypical” for pitchers and isn’t “uncommon for someone who’s had a prior Tommy John surgery.”
