Max Fried Shares Yankees Favorites: Board Games, Family & Queen

The star pitcher opens up about his personal interests and passions off the field.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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New York Yankees pitcher Max Fried, who signed an eight-year, $218 million deal with the team in 2025, has revealed his personal favorites in a spring training questionnaire. The 32-year-old shared insights into his life outside of baseball, including his teenage celebrity crush, childhood sports hero, entertainment preferences, family traditions, hobbies, and dream travel destinations.

Why it matters

This profile provides Yankees fans a rare glimpse into Fried's personality and interests beyond his exceptional on-field performance, which helped stabilize the team's rotation after key injuries in 2025. By highlighting Fried's passions for board games, family history, and classic rock music, the story humanizes the star pitcher and gives supporters a better understanding of who he is as a person.

The details

Fried's favorites include the movie "For Love of the Game," actor Matthew McConaughey, actress Natalie Portman, musician J. Cole, and the band Queen. Growing up, his best memories were playing stickball with friends for hours on end. He enjoys visiting the zoo to see lions and tigers, and when watching other sports, he supports the Lakers and Kings. Fried's hobbies include a love for board games and chess, and his family is highly competitive across various activities. Food-wise, he favors sushi, In-N-Out Burger, Sour Patch Kids, and chocolate ice cream.

  • Fried signed an eight-year, $218 million deal with the Yankees in 2025.
  • The profile was released on February 17, 2026 as part of the Yankees' Favorites Series.

The players

Max Fried

A 32-year-old starting pitcher for the New York Yankees who signed a lucrative long-term contract with the team in 2025 after previously playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Gerrit Cole

The Yankees' 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner who missed the entire 2025 season due to injury.

Luis Gil

The Yankees' 2024 AL Rookie of the Year who remained sidelined until August 2025 due to injury.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

By highlighting Fried's diverse interests and personal connections beyond baseball, this profile humanizes the star pitcher and gives Yankees fans a better understanding of who he is as a person, not just an athlete. His passion for board games, family history, and classic rock music reveals a multifaceted individual who is more than just a dominant force on the mound.