Yankees' Max Fried outruns fastest player in baseball in race to first base

When they work on pitchers covering first base during spring training, there isn't someone running anywhere near the speed of Rays rookie Chandler Simpson.

So on Sunday, when Simpson pulled a Max Fried grounder to first base, the race was on for the Yankees ace in a way it wouldn't have been with any other player.

Simpson has been clocked at 30.8 ft/sec running to first in the minors, as fast as anyone in the sport.

Fried had fallen off to the third-base side on his pitch delivery, so he was off balance to begin with.

Against most hitters, you'd expect Fried to still make the recovery. Against Simpson? Good luck.

Except this is where Fried showed himself to be one of the most athletic pitchers in baseball. He won the race.

MORE: All about Chandler Simpson, the best base stealer in baseball

The Yankees didn't pay Fried $215 million in the offseason to be fast on infield ground balls.

But it's just another example of what makes Fried special. A pitcher as athletic as he is should age gracefully. His innate athletic abilities make him a prime candidate to stay smooth and healthy throughout his time in pinstripes.

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Fried surely will be bragging about this play to his teammates in the clubhouse on Sunday night. That's some legitimate speed.

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