With TJ Friedl headed to the IL, this Reds prospect should be called up

The Cincinnati Reds have nothing to lose at this point, except 100 games. With TJ Friedl headed to the IL following a hamstring injury that cut short the outfielder's rookie season, Cincinnati should promote Allan Cerda to the active roster.

This would be a highly unorthodox move on the part of the Reds front office, but the club has selected the contract of outfield prospect Michael Siani. Adding Cerda to the active roster for the final two games of the year would be a nice way for the 22-year-old to get his feet wet.

Cerda was added to the Reds 40-man roster last winter and has spent all the 2022 season in the minor leagues. The outfield prospect, who's well regarded for his power and athleticism, played 124 games split between High-A Dayton and Double-A Chattanooga this season.

The Reds should call up OF prospect Allan Cerda to replace TJ Friedl.

Being that Allan Cerda was added to the Cincinnati Reds 40-man roster during the offseason, the club has already used one of his three minor league options this season. Seeing as how Cincinnati does not have any other outfielders on the 40-man roster, it makes the most sense to promote Cerda to the big leagues.

Cerda is not necessarily "ready" for the major leagues. A 33.2% strikeout-rate in the minor leagues saw Cerda fall out of favor with the pundits over at MLB Pipeline. Cerda is no longer among the Reds Top 30 prospects as far as the outlet is concerned.

But Cerda does have a keen eye for the strike zone, as evidenced by his 16.6% walk-rate and .360 on-base percentage in 408 at-bats this season. Despite his high strikeout-rate and low batting average (.208), Cerda still produced an OPS of .803 and a wRC+ of 124 according to FanGraphs.

Perhaps the Cincinnati Reds will take the conservative approach and just recall Mark Kolozsvary or Michael Papierski to act as bench bat for the final two games, but it sure couldn't hurt to give Allan Cerda some time in the big league clubhouse over the final two days of the 2022 season.