Reds have every reason to stay patient after TJ Friedl's latest surge

The Cincinnati Reds' decision to option beloved outfielder TJ Friedl to the minor leagues earlier this month was not one that most fans took lightly, though the move itself had merit. Following a breakout season a year ago when he became the team's everyday leadoff hitter, the 30-year-old could only muster a .179/.259/.256 (42 wRC+) batting line prior to his demotion.

Luckily, there is good news to report. Friedl has only played in 15 games with the Louisville Bats, but it hasn't taken him long to get his mojo back. He has recorded eight extra-base hits, an .840 OPS, and a 118 wRC+ while splitting his time between left and center field.

In a vacuum, he's probably played well enough to justify a return to the big leagues. It's not as though the Reds and their 22nd-ranked scoring offense are overflowing with productive regulars.

And yet, this is where Friedl somehow runs into a problem. Despite a below-average wRC+ as a team (92), the Reds have two breakout players who've completely taking over their outfield.

Reds' roster logjam means TJ Frield can take extra time to fix his struggles

JJ Bleday's monstrous campaign has gotten the lion's share of the spotlight in Cincinnati this year, and for good reason. The former first-round pick had to settle for a cheap one-year deal this past offseason, and didn't even start playing every day until the beginning of May. All he's done since then is completely run away with the starting job in left field, and is hitting .254/.356/.548 (141 wRC+) with 13 home runs and the best strikeout and walk rates of his career.

Though his defense remains a work in progress, the Reds have successfully found a home for him in left field, which is where Friedl was spending a chunk of his time this year. Likewise, Friedl's old position (center field) and his place in the batting order has been taken by Blake Dunn.

Dunn hasn't been as impactful at the plate as Bleday, as his 106 wRC+ and .748 OPS would indicate. But he gets on base at a similar clip (35% of the time) and is a bigger threat on the basepaths and has been outstanding with the glove. His 5 defensive runs saved (DRS) in the Reds' outfield this year is a significant improvement over Friedl's output from the 2025 season (-10 DRS).

Friedl has already said — as relayed by manager Terry Francona — that trying to find himself while sitting on the bench was a difficult task. With Bleday and Dunn clearly emerging as two of the Reds' most important players, perhaps it's for the best if the veteran outfielder continues to work on his craft while playing every day in Louisville.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow