Despite the Braves being the hottest team in baseball, they’ve done it shorthanded, missing one of their biggest stars in Max Fried. However, that could soon be a thing of the past. According to Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the southpaw will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday.
Being the best team in baseball without the best lefty on the planet is pretty impressive. If the Braves weren’t already a juggernaut, returning last year’s NL Cy Young runner-up will make them even more World Series favorites than they already are.
Fried has spent about two months on the IL due to discomfort in his elbow. Though it was purely precautionary, the Braves weren’t taking any chances with the ace of their staff.
Assuming there are no setbacks, it’s not crazy to think he will rejoin the team at some point in July. Fried will certainly need a few rehab starts before appearing in Atlanta, but he’s already beginning that process before the All-Star break.
Again, the Braves won’t rush him back, especially with how well the club is performing right now. It’s in everyone’s best interest to take things slowly. However, Max Fried is the most important player to this team’s championship aspirations, outside of Ronald Acuna Jr. They’ll need him if they want to raise the Commissioner’s Trophy at the end of the year.
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