3 Reds rookies, not in the starting rotation, who will have an increased role in 2023

The Cincinnati Reds are a team in transition and last season saw an irregularly high number of rookies take the field. The 2023 season will see much of the same as Cincinnati looks to rebuild its roster from the inside out.

The Reds saw both Jonathan India and Tyler Stephenson take the field for their second major league season in 2022. Both struggled with injuries, but the assumption prior to last season was that the duo would have a big role in the team's performance.

Several Reds rookies, including starters Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, and Graham Ashcraft, made an impact on last year's squad and much will be expected from those players as they head into Year 2 of their major league journey. Which three Cincinnati Reds rookies, not in the starting rotation, should expect an increased role as as they enter their sophomore campaign?

1. Reds OF Stuart Fairchild will have an increased role in 2023.

One of the most underrated acquisitions last season for the Cincinnati Reds was actually a re-acquisition. After trading away Stuart Fairchild in 2020 to the Arizona Diamondbacks, Nick Krall was able to bring the outfielder back to the Queen City in 2022.

Fairchild appeared in 38 games for the Redlegs last season and slashed .279/.374/.523 with five home runs in 86 at-bats. Fairchild played all over the outfield but appeared most comfortable in left field.

After finally parting ways with longtime outfielder Aristides Aquino, it would appear as though Cincinnati will be well positioned to offer Fairchild more playing in 2023. The only other right-handed hitting outfielder on the Reds roster is Nick Senzel, and it's questionable whether the former first-round pick will even be on the roster, much less in the outfield on Opening Day.

Stuart Fairchild could easily be paired with TJ Friedl or Jake Fraley as a platoon option in one of the corner outfield spots. The Washington state native could even find a role in center field as well. Fairchild offers Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell a lot of options, so fans should expect to see the 26-year-old early and often in 2023.

3. Reds OF TJ Friedl will have an increased role in 2023.

If you're an outfielder who's looking to make a name for yourself in 2023, you want to be part of the Cincinnati Reds organization. Cincinnati's outfield, which was the team's strength back in 2021, may be its biggest weakness heading into next season.

Gone are Jesse Winker, Tyler Naquin, and Nick Castellanos. The promise of Nick Senzel being a perennial All-Star has long since disappeared. In fact, Senzel's future in the outfield is now in question.

Such a void of talent, however, give TJ Friedl a golden opportunity to prove that he's more than just a rotational outfielder who can snag a start once every third or fourth day. Friedl had a cup of coffee with the Reds in 2021, but got a much longer look last season.

Friedl's bat has always been his calling card, but after posting an OPS of .750 in 225 at-bats last season, it's going to be hard for Reds manager David Bell to keep the Universtiy of Nevada product on the pine.

In fact, if you take away Friedl's first-half performance in 2022, you'll see that a trip to the minors helped the otufielder grow by leaps and bounds. Friedl posted a slash line of just .200/.250/.289 through June 18th last season.

Knowing that those types of numbers were unsustainable, Friedl made an adjustment to his approach while on an assignment in Triple-A. Once he got back to the big leagues in August, Friedl hit .267/.354/.533 with eight home runs and 18 RBIs.

TJ Friedl has great speed on the base paths, though his fringe arm will probably keep him out of right field. Still, don't be surprised if Friedl surpasses Jake Fraley as the team's No. 1 left-handed hitting outfielder in 2023.