Braves: Max Fried strike pitch being called a ball sparked fan outrage – For The Win

The Atlanta Braves suffered one of the more maddening missed calls on a pitch you’ll see in a MLB game this season.

As he was pitching against Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos on Saturday in the bottom of the first inning, Braves ace Max Fried threw a clean pitch right into the middle of the strike zone that should’ve sent Castellanos to the bench and concluded the inning for Philly.

However, the umpire somehow called it a ball instead of a strike and left Castellanos at the plate to eventually give the Phillies a 3-2 lead in the first, per MLB.com’s Mark Bowman.

There are always debatable calls in baseball when it comes to the strike zone, but this is a bizarre whiff for the umpire that absolutely sets a sour tone for how balls and strikes will be called this year.

Here is the 2-2 pitch that preceded the Castellanos bases-loaded walk. Fried would have escaped the inning unscathed. Now he exits having recorded just two outs and with the Phillies leading 3-2 in the first. pic.twitter.com/UEPVxElp6s

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) March 30, 2024

The Braves got the lead back in the second inning, but the team is still likely furious this Fried strike pitch didn’t count as it should’ve. They say winning is the best medicine, but this one will sting for a bit either way.

MLB fans did not like this call one bit.

Early candidate for worst missed call of the season https://t.co/w5NmK4q7oK

— Andrew Joseph (@AndyJ0seph) March 30, 2024

This really is a perfect example of how a challenge system would be helpful to everyone, including the umpire: https://t.co/i7M0QKk3BV

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) March 30, 2024

So now Max is out of the game… and it’s 3-2… because an umpire made an absolutely horrific call. Like you just changed the game on a ridiculous call! #BravesCountry https://t.co/C1jDT90C22

— Anna Huffstutler (@A_Huffstutler) March 30, 2024

Max did not get any help here. This is minor league. Terrible. https://t.co/G9t6OrXU7i

— buck belue (@buckbelue8) March 30, 2024

How did Fried not throw a fit here. I would have lost my mind https://t.co/1NB4FBLDz8

— Jonny Heller (@JonnyHeller) March 30, 2024

At what point do the players refuse to play until an ABS system is put in place?

We are three days into the baseball season. There has been an obvious strike called a ball at least once a day. https://t.co/SSKybfqQiV

— Jakob Goodwin (@Jakob_Goodwin) March 30, 2024

Fried needs to go full Pat Bev and show the ump this video on the field https://t.co/T9UNKOCNjX

— James Smyth (@JamesSmyth621) March 30, 2024

That’s a strike with a robot ump https://t.co/M1AXpYsrKn

— Logan Criswell (@LoBamaCwell) March 30, 2024

I know it’s early in the season, but this might be a contender for the worst umpiring of the year https://t.co/lw4EVPS9BU

— Fletcher Keel (@FletchTopper) March 30, 2024