Reds breakthrough moment from TJ Friedl might be bigger than it looks

It took him 21 games, but TJ Friedl finally recorded his first extra-base hit of the 2026 season and it helped power the Cincinnati Reds to an extra-innings victory over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday afternoon. Friedl's bases-clearing, three-RBI double during the top of the ninth inning was as clutch as it gets, and Cincinnati needs more of the same from Friedl moving forward.

Friedl was the catalyst for the Reds offense in 2025. He owned a .364 on-base percentage and fit the mold of what Reds manager Terry Francona was looking for in his leadoff hitter. Regardless of the method, Friedl found a way to get on base. No other Reds player with 150 or more at-bats reached base with more regularity last season.

Reds need the 2025-version of TJ Friedl to lead the way

That's why it was so disappointing to see Friedl struggle early and often in 2026. Prior to Sunday's game against the Twins, Friedl was only reaching base 25.9% of the time. He balanced his 23% strikeout rate with a respectable 11.5% walk rate, but the Reds need their leadoff hitter to get on with more frequency — preferrably with some extra-base hits.

Three of the Reds bats have been producing during the early-going. Sal Stewart is arguably the frontrunner for the NL Rookie of the Year Award at the moment with a .278/.383/.595 slash line and seven home runs. Elly De La Cruz has been crushing baseballs since the season began and owns a 134 wRC+ and an .859 OPS. Eugenio Suárez started out a little slow, but he's rallied of late and is hitting .256 with a .410 slugging percentage, three homers, and a 106 wRC+.

That's the heart of the Reds batting order, but with both Friedl and Matt McLain struggling to begin the season, the opportunities for the aforementioned trio to drive in runs has become rather difficult. Add in the fact that Ke'Bryan Hayes has just three hits to begin the season, and the Reds' 9-1-2 hitters have brought Cincinnati's offense to a standstill.

The Reds have some difficult decisions staring them in the face, but if Friedl's clutch base hit over the weekend can jumpstart his season, finding a new leadoff hitter won't be one of them. The Reds rank 26th in runs scored this season, but if Friedl can return to the player he was in 2025, that number if bound to increase quickly.

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