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Baseball: Max Fried leaves for his dream job on Friday

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And so it begins for former Harvard-Westlake left-hander Max Fried.

Fried is scheduled to leave on Friday to join the San Diego Padres minor league team in the Arizona League.

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Taken No. 7 overall in the amateur draft, Fried agreed to pass up college for a $3-million signing bonus.

He’s not expected to throw very much this summer because he had a busy spring for the Wolverines, but he’s on his way in pro baseball, fulfilling a dream he’s had since he was 5.

His big task will be continuing to mature and dealing with the pressures and distractions that come with being paid to play a kid’s game.

It’s far easier to have three years of college experience before heading into pro baseball, but Fried couldn’t pass up the financial incentives to begin now. He has confidence in himself, and the test will be dealing with the inevitable ups and downs.

He’s got a strong support system and seems well prepared. There will be lots of learning ahead, but he’s a good learner.

-- Eric Sondheimer

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