1. Early Life and Amateur Career
Christian Friedrich's journey in baseball began in his early life and continued through his collegiate years, where he gained recognition for his pitching prowess.
1.1. Early Life and Education
Christian Louis Patrick Friedrich was born on July 8, 1987, in Evanston, Illinois, United States. He attended Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois, before continuing his education and baseball career at Eastern Kentucky University.
1.2. Amateur Baseball Career
At Eastern Kentucky University, Friedrich played for the Eastern Kentucky Colonels baseball team. His collegiate performance earned him significant accolades, including being named a Baseball America Freshman All-American in 2006. In 2007, he participated in collegiate summer baseball with the Falmouth Commodores in the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he was recognized as a league All-Star. His strong collegiate showing continued, as he was also named a second-team All-American in 2008.
2. Professional Career
Christian Friedrich's professional baseball journey included stints in Major League Baseball, various independent leagues, and the KBO League.
2.1. Major League Baseball (MLB) Career
Friedrich's time in Major League Baseball saw him play for the Colorado Rockies and the San Diego Padres.
2.1.1. Colorado Rockies
Friedrich was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the first round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft, as the 25th overall pick. He was highly regarded as a prospect, ranked #95 in baseball by Baseball America before the 2009 season and improving to #33 before the 2010 season. Despite high expectations, he experienced a period of slow development, recording ERAs above 5.00 in Double-A for two consecutive years.
In 2011, the Rockies added Friedrich to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He made his MLB debut on May 9, 2012, starting against the San Diego Padres. In this debut, he pitched 6 innings, allowing only one earned run, and earned his first major league win. However, his 2012 season was cut short on August 3, when an MRI revealed a stress fracture in his lower back, forcing him to miss the remainder of the season. For the 2012 season, Friedrich recorded a 5-8 win-loss record with a 6.17 ERA in 16 starts, accumulating 74 strikeouts in 84.2 innings pitched.
On January 28, 2016, the Rockies designated Friedrich for assignment. He was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on February 5, but the claim was reversed on February 19, sending him back to the Rockies, after which he became a free agent.
2.1.2. San Diego Padres
Friedrich signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres on March 3, 2016, and was invited to Spring Training. He was promoted to the major leagues on May 13. In his Padres debut against the Arizona Diamondbacks, he notably made a bare-handed toss to first base for an out after a line drive hit his glove. On September 10, 2016, against his former team, the Colorado Rockies, Friedrich pitched seven shutout innings despite being hit in the left leg by a 109-NaN Q mph line drive in the third inning. He led the Padres to a 6-3 victory and tied his career high with 10 strikeouts in that game. He finished the 2016 season with 5 wins.
Friedrich became a free agent on October 30, 2017, after the Padres outrighted him due to sustained injuries.
2.2. Independent League and Minor League Career
After his time with the Padres, Friedrich played in various independent leagues and affiliated minor league systems.
On March 26, 2019, he signed with the New Britain Bees of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In 11 starts for the Bees, he posted a 5-1 record with a 3.00 ERA and 63 strikeouts over 63 innings pitched. On November 5, 2019, he re-signed with the New Britain Bees. However, following the team's move to the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, he was selected by the Somerset Patriots in the Bees dispersal draft.
On February 25, 2020, Friedrich signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox. However, he did not play in any games during the 2020 season due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He was released by the White Sox organization on June 18.
On June 29, 2021, Friedrich signed with the Lexington Legends of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He made 3 appearances for Lexington, registering a 6.17 ERA and 11.67 innings. On August 7, 2021, he was traded to the Chicago Dogs of the American Association of Professional Baseball for two players to be named later and cash considerations. Friedrich appeared in 6 games for the Chicago Dogs to conclude the year, compiling a 3-1 record with a 4.21 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 36.33 innings pitched. He was released by the team on April 19, 2022.
2.3. KBO League Career (NC Dinos)
On July 2, 2019, Friedrich's contract was purchased by the NC Dinos of the KBO League in South Korea, where he was acquired as a replacement pitcher for Eddie Butler.
He made his KBO debut on July 12, securing his first win after pitching 5 innings and allowing 4 earned runs. On September 18, 2019, in a game against the SK Wyverns, Friedrich achieved a complete game shutout, recording 9 innings pitched with 5 hits allowed, 3 walks, and 6 strikeouts. Following the game, he expressed his joy, stating that achieving a shutout in the highly competitive KBO League was particularly gratifying, attributing his success to Yang Eui-ji's effective pitch calling and the advice from pitching coach Son Min-han.
For the 2019 season with the NC Dinos, Friedrich finished with a record of 7 wins and 4 losses, a 2.75 ERA, 72 innings pitched, 56 strikeouts, and 22 walks. He became a free agent after the season concluded.
3. Pitching Style
Christian Friedrich possessed a diverse pitching repertoire. His primary pitches included an average 92-NaN Q mph four-seam fastball and a sinker. He also featured an average 85-NaN Q mph slider, an average 77-NaN Q mph curveball, and an average 84-NaN Q mph changeup. Additionally, he occasionally threw a cutter and a splitter. His curveball, in particular, was highly regarded for its quality, having received high praise since his high school days. After suffering from biceps tendonitis, Friedrich reportedly worked on his pitching mechanics, which led to improved performance.
4. Career Statistics and Jersey Numbers
Christian Friedrich's professional career included significant time in both Major League Baseball and the KBO League.
4.1. Major League Baseball (MLB) Statistics
| Year | Team | GP | GS | CG | SHO | W | L | SV | HLD | WPCT | TBF | IP | H | HR | BB | HBP | SO | R | ER | ERA | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | COL | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 0 | .385 | 377 | 84.2 | 102 | 14 | 30 | 0 | 74 | 61 | 58 | 6.17 | 1.56 |
| 2014 | COL | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | .000 | 110 | 24.1 | 25 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 27 | 21 | 16 | 5.92 | 1.44 |
| 2015 | COL | 68 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 9 | .000 | 270 | 58.1 | 75 | 5 | 25 | 2 | 45 | 37 | 34 | 5.25 | 1.71 |
| 2016 | SD | 24 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 0 | .294 | 567 | 129.1 | 131 | 13 | 52 | 2 | 100 | 74 | 69 | 4.80 | 1.42 |
| MLB Totals (4 years) | 124 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 28 | 0 | 12 | .263 | 1324 | 296.2 | 333 | 35 | 117 | 5 | 246 | 193 | 177 | 5.37 | 1.52 | |
4.2. KBO League Statistics
| Year | Team | ERA | G | CG | SHO | W | L | SV | HLD | WPCT | TBF | IP | H | HR | BB | HBP | SO | R | ER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | NC | 2.75 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.636 | 294 | 72 | 63 | 4 | 22 | 3 | 56 | 22 | 22 |
| KBO Totals (1 season) | 2.75 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.636 | 294 | 72 | 63 | 4 | 22 | 3 | 56 | 22 | 22 | |
4.3. Jersey Numbers
Friedrich wore jersey number 53 during his professional career with the Colorado Rockies (2012, 2014-2015), San Diego Padres (2016), and NC Dinos (2019).