TJ Friedl's refusal to change is refreshing, but Reds fans remain on edge

TJ Friedl spent far too much time on the injured list during the 2024 season. One of the Cincinnati Reds' top performers in 2023, Friedl was only able to play in 85 games last season, and put up the worst numbers of his career. The Reds outfielder hit .226/.310/.380, but was still able to smash 13 home runs in just 341 plate appearances.

Friedl was not part of the Reds Opening Day roster a year ago after suffering a wrist injury while diving for a ball in the outfield during a Cactus League game. He returned from the IL on May 7th, but a hit-by-pitch in a game against the San Francisco Giants resulted in Friedl's placement on IL just six days after being activated.

Another quick turnaround saw Friedl return to the diamond on May 29th, but he couldn't make it another month before landing on the IL again; this time with a hamstring injury. Friedl fought tooth and nail to get back into the Reds lineup, and finally did in late-July. However, the injury plagued Friedl throughout the rest of the 2024 season.

Reds OF TJ Friedl refuses to change his aggressive approach

Friedl plays a gritty, aggressive style of baseball, and the fans in Cincinnati absolutely love him for it. Friedl was undrafted coming out of college and was an absolute grinder on his way to the big leagues. From his start in the Pioneer League back in 2016 to his major league debut in 2021, Friedl has earned his stripes every step of the way.

But Friedl's all-out hustle, which is arguably his biggest strength, is also his biggest weakness. Last spring's setback came by way of diving for a fly ball in the outfield in what many Reds fans would consider to be a 'meaningless' game. But while Reds fans would prefer to see Friedl take his foot off the gas this spring, that's not going to happen.

"The way I play the game is the way I play the game," Friedl told FOX 19's Joe Danneman. "It's not going to change. Whether it's spring training or Game 7 of the World Series. You can't go into spring training and be hesitant, and not play like yourself, and then Game 1 of the season starts and expect to turn it on and flip a switch in your head, like, 'Okay, now I can play.' For me I've played the game one way my whole life and that's all I know."

That doesn't sound like a player who's going to take these upcoming Cactus League games lightly. Friedl made it to the big leagues based on his skills, but his determination and hustle played a big role as well.

Friedl refuses to change, and that's certainly something that Reds fans admire about him. However, it also makes the Cincinnati faithful very anxious moving forward. The Reds' depth in the outfield is questionable at best, and Cincinnati needs Friedl in the starting lineup on a regular basis in 2025.

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