Share Video

Link copied!
Player Outlook
While he may not look the part, TJ Friedl became a fantasy darling last season with a .279/.352/.467 line, 18 homers and 27 steals in 556 plate appearances. He projects to be the Reds' everyday center fielder after a surprising 4.4 fWAR season, but Friedl will continue to have his doubters even with his high contact rate given the fact that his xSLG, average exit velocity and barrel rate all ranked in the bottom seven percent of the league, among other reasons. Friedl did a disproportionate amount of his damage at home, managing a .724 OPS on the road. He hit lefty pitching well, but he was rather fortunate in that regard (.425 BABIP) and some giveback against same-side pitching should be expected. Signed in 2016 as an undrafted free agent -- there were 40 rounds back in 2016 -- Friedl has made a career out of proving people wrong. If he continues to do so, he will reach folk hero status in Cincinnati and fantasy circles.

Fantasy Stats

Year fpts
Fantasy Points
fpts/g
Fantasy Points per Game
r
Runs
hr
Home Runs
rbi
Runs Batted In
bb
Base on Balls (Walk)
sb
Stolen Bases
avg
Batting Average
2024 .000
2023 4273.1 73 18 66 47 27 .279
2022 1752.4 33 8 25 20 7 .240
3y Avg. 2082.8 38 9 31 24 11 .266
Projections Powered by
Fantasy Performance by Week
55%
Roster
3%
Start

Fantasy News

  • Reds' TJ Friedl: Placed on injured list

    The Reds placed Friedl (wrist) on the 10-day injured list Wednesday. Friedl's fractured right wrist will cause him to miss the first month-plus of the season. However, it's worth noting that the Reds put him on the 10-day IL rather than the 60-day list, suggesting that the 28-year-old outfielder may be targeting the shorter end of his initial 6-to-8-week recovery timeline. Bubba Thompson was recalled from Triple-A Louisville in a corresponding move.
    ... See More ... See Less
  • Reds' TJ Friedl: Could be back in six weeks

    Reds manager David Bells said Sunday that Friedl (wrist) could be cleared for game action in around six weeks, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. Bell noted that Friedl, who sustained a small fracture to the distal radius of his right wrist March 16, has been informed by doctors that he can begin moving his wrist around. Friedl will next be evaluated in two weeks, at which point he could be able to resume light baseball activities. At the time he fractured his wrist, Friedl was projected to miss 6-to-8 weeks, and he looks like he could be tracking toward the short end of that recovery timeline.
    ... See More ... See Less
  • Reds' TJ Friedl: May avoid 60-day IL

    The Reds believe Friedl (wrist) will be able to return ahead of the two months he would have to miss if placed on the 60-day injured list, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports. Friedl will open the season on the injured list due to a broken wrist, and the organization is mulling its options for the final roster spot -- probably someone that can play center field. The most likely options are Bubba Thompson and Jacob Hurtubise, both of whom are on the 40-man roster, but neither player is expected to have a significant role while Friedl is unavailable.
    ... See More ... See Less
  • Reds' TJ Friedl: Out with fractured wrist

    Friedl was diagnosed Sunday with a fractured right wrist and will be reassessed in 3-to-4 weeks, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Friedl exited Saturday's Cactus League game against the Mariners with what was believed to be a right wrist sprain. However, after the Reds sent him in for X-rays, he was determined to have broken the wrist and will now be on track to begin the season on the injured list. Friedl's injury should help clear up the Reds' logjam in the outfield to some degree, as Cincinnati should now have room for all of Will Benson, Jake Fraley and Jonathan India to see full-time roles against right-handed pitching to begin the season. Though Friedl is set to be re-evaluated in 3-to-4 weeks, he'll likely require some ramp-up time beyond that including a minor-league rehab assignment, so he may not be a realistic candidate to make his 2024 debut until May.
    ... See More ... See Less
  • Reds' TJ Friedl: Leaves game after diving attempt

    Friedl exited Saturday's Cactus League game against the Mariners with a right wrist sprain, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Friedl landed awkwardly on his arm after making an attempt at a diving catch and left the game shortly afterward, and an update on his return timeline should come within the next few days. The center fielder is slashing .185/.296/.667 with six RBI over 27 at-bats in Cactus League games.
    ... See More ... See Less
  • Reds' TJ Friedl: Perfect Sunday

    Friedl went 3-for-3 with two doubles and two runs scored in Sunday's spring game against Kansas City. Friedl is slated to be Cincinnati's starting center fielder and likely leadoff batter against righties. Through five Cactus League games, Friedl is 4-for-12.
    ... See More ... See Less
  • Reds' TJ Friedl: Having monster finish

    Friedl went 1-for-4 with a walk, a solo home run and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 11-7 win over the Guardians. Friedl homered for a fourth consecutive game and extended his hit streak to seven contests, during which he's 10-for-25 with seven walks, five extra-base hits, eight RBI, two steals and six runs scored. The outfielder, who had slumped after the All-Star break, has bounced back in September just as he reached a career high in plate appearances. Friedl's slashing .348/.471/.768 in 23 games this month.
    ... See More ... See Less
  • Reds' TJ Friedl: On base five times

    Friedl went 2-for-2 with three walks, a home run, two RBI, a stolen base and an additional run scored in Friday's 7-5 loss to the Pirates. Friedl's two-run blast in the sixth inning gave Cincinnati its third (and final) one-run lead in the game, but the bullpen gave it back the next inning. The stolen base was Friedl's 25th and first one in 27 games.
    ... See More ... See Less
  • Reds' TJ Friedl: Notches two extra-base hits in win

    Friedl went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a triple, and two runs scored in Sunday's win over the Cardinals. Friedl notched his seventh triple and added to the Reds' lead with his 13th home run of the year in the seventh. He remains second on the team with 24 steals but has not swiped a bag since Aug. 23 and has failed to convert either of his two attempts over his last 17 games. The 27-year-old has been sitting more against lefties as of late and has hit 10 of his 13 home runs at home. Fantasy managers should deploy him in their lineups with caution this upcoming week with the Reds playing all six of their games on the road while also slated to face two lefties. Friedl now sits at a slash line of .270/.338/.439 with 52 RBI, 62 runs and a 36:79 BB:K in 490 plate appearances.
    ... See More ... See Less
  • Reds' TJ Friedl: Sitting against lefty

    Friedl is out of the lineup Friday against the Cardinals. Harrison Bader will cover center field and bat leadoff with the Cardinals sending left-hander Drew Rom to the mound. Bader should continue to start in center against all southpaws, though Friedl can sometimes appear in those lineups as the left fielder.
    ... See More ... See Less
  • Reds' TJ Friedl: Absent from lineup

    Friedl is not in the lineup for the first game of Friday's doubleheader versus the Cubs. New addition Harrison Bader is in center field for the Reds versus left-hander Jordan Wicks. Friedl still figures to play plenty against right-handers, but even in those instances might be removed late for defense or a pinch-hitter.
    ... See More ... See Less
  • Reds' TJ Friedl: Swipes 23rd bag in win

    Friedl went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and a steal in Wednesday's 7-2 victory over Cleveland. Friedl tallied the opening run in the Cincinnati win, leading off the bottom of the first inning with a single before scoring on a Matt McLain double. With his three-hit effort Wednesday, the 28-year-old Friedl broke out of a 2-for-18 (.111) slump. He's now slashing .280/.346/.439 with 10 homers, 50 runs scored and 46 RBI across 396 plate appearances while going 23-for-27 in stolen base attempts this season.
    ... See More ... See Less
  • Reds' TJ Friedl: Steps out of lineup versus lefty

    Friedl is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Guardians. Reds manager David Bell will stash three of his lefty-hitting regulars in Friedl, Joey Votto and Will Benson on the bench for the series opener while the Guardians bring southpaw Logan Allen to the hill. Stuart Fairchild will check in for Friedl in center field.
    ... See More ... See Less
  • Reds' TJ Friedl: On base three times

    Friedl batted leadoff and went 1-for-3 with two walks, an RBI and a run scored in Friday's 9-2 win over Pittsburgh. Reds manager David Bell reconfigured the top of the order, dropping Elly De La Cruz to third and putting Friedl atop the lineup, where he primary was from late May to mid-July. Bell told Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer that he plans to "stick with it," referring to the lineup while also saying "nothing's permanent." For now, it looks like Friedl will bat first against right-handers. Cincinnati doesn't face a lefty until Tuesday, when the Reds return home for a series against the Guardians, who are projected to start Logan Allen.
    ... See More ... See Less
  • Reds' TJ Friedl: Reaches double-double

    Friedl went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a stolen base in Sunday's 6-2 loss to the Nationals. Friedl led off the third inning with his 10th homer of the season, then stole his 20th base two innings later. He's posted at least 10 home runs and 20 steals in three consecutive seasons, which includes productions in the minors.
    ... See More ... See Less
  • Reds' TJ Friedl: Hits bench against southpaw

    Friedl is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs. The lefty-hitting Friedl will get the evening off with the Cubs bringing a southpaw (Drew Smyly) to the hill. Stuart Fairchild will spell Friedl in center field and bat eighth.
    ... See More ... See Less
  • Reds' TJ Friedl: Delivers two in win

    Friedl went 2-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 9-0 win over the Dodgers. Friedl produced the game-winning run early, singling home Elly De La Cruz, who had doubled to lead off the game. He later delivered Will Benson for the Reds' eighth run. Friedl has multiple hits in four of the last eight contests and driven in five during that stretch.
    ... See More ... See Less
  • Reds' TJ Friedl: Another day, another steal

    Friedl went 2-for-5 with a stolen base and an RBI in Wednesday's 9-2 win over Washington. Friedl swiped a bag for the second straight game and has eight over the last 12 contests. After a couple of stints on the injured list due to oblique and hamstring injuries and just six steals over his first 42 games, Friedl must be feeling better. The outfielder has attempted 11 steals (10 successful) over the 22 games since being activated June 10.
    ... See More ... See Less
  • Reds' TJ Friedl: Homers, swipes two bags

    Friedl went 3-for-5 with a solo homer, three RBI, three runs scored and two steals in Wednesday's 11-7 victory over the Orioles. Friedl wreaked havoc on Orioles pitchers throughout the contest, reaching on singles and then coming around to score in each of his first two at-bats. He went on to reach base four times on the afternoon, swiping two bags along the way, before adding a two-run blast in the top of the 10th to put the Reds up 10-7. Friedl has now homered in two straight and has six stolen bases over his last six games.
    ... See More ... See Less
  • Reds' TJ Friedl: Sleeper hitters for Week 14 (June 26-July 2)

    Friedl benefits just as much from that righty-heavy schedule as Jake Fraley, and while he doesn't pack as much power in his swing, he's been batting over .300 long enough to take it seriously, particularly since he also brings an element of speed.
    ... See More ... See Less