Reds’ TJ Friedl to miss Opening Day with fractured wrist: Who will step up?

GOODYEAR, ArizonaTJ Friedl, a center fielder for the Cincinnati Reds, will miss Opening Day due to a non-displaced fracture of his right wrist’s distal radius. In Saturday’s Cactus League game against the Seattle Mariners, Friedl was hurt diving to try to make a catch.

The 28-year-old Friedl became the starting center fielder and leadoff hitter for the Reds last season, leading the team with a 3.8 Baseball Reference WAR. Will Benson and Stuart Fairchild will cover center field for the time being, but when rosters are reduced, president of baseball operations Nick Krall hinted that another option might become available from outside the team.

Even though Friedl’s first X-ray on Saturday revealed no fracture, he was cautioned that he wasn’t out of the woods. His glove-hand wrist fracture was eventually discovered by an MRI. On Sunday at Goodyear Ballpark, Friedl had a meeting with Dr. Andrew Razzano, the Reds club physician.

“For now, all that has to be done is wait for the bone to mend,” Friedl stated. “I have to wear this soft cast for the next three to four weeks, and then we’ll reevaluate.”

Friedl claimed he was informed that the fracture was minor and that there was no ligament damage. Though he won’t be able to hit or catch, he can still exercise and toss.

As a left-handed hitter who outperformed right-handed pitchers in 2023 with an OPS of.785 versus right-handed pitchers and.962 against lefties, Friedl solidified his position as a regular player last season. Friedl had a.279/.352/.467 batting line, 20 stolen bases, and 18 home runs.

Benson, who bats left-handed, and Fairchild, who bats right-handed, will alternate in center field in the absence of Friedl. Alongside Friedl, Benson, Spencer Steer, and Jake Fraley were anticipated to see the most of the field time, with Fairchild covering all three positions.

Krall remarked, “We’ve had some internal discussions, nothing concrete just yet.”

He did not rule out searching for additional information outside the company.

Krall stated, “At this point, I wouldn’t rule anything out. I wouldn’t say we’re going to go look there, but I wouldn’t rule anything out.” We’re still trying to determine whether we can fill the position internally. We’re not just looking at this for this particular roster; perhaps there is someone else for whom a suitable roster is not created.

In center field last season, Friedl started 108 games, while Fairchild started 17.Nick Senzel started 12 last year, while Jose Barrero, who was assigned earlier this month, began 15. Benson started one and participated in four games at center.

Veteran players Josh Harrison and Tony Kemp are among those in camp who have played center field in the past, albeit infrequently. Harrison has only appeared in two center games, both in 2021. Since 2019, Kemp has not played center.

Friedl mentioned that he had spoken with Harrison, who had previously experienced a shattered hand bone. Friedl was informed by Harrison that his only option was to wait for the bone to mend.

In a spring training game, Friedl declared he wouldn’t second-guess his decision to dive for a ball.

Friedl remarked, “It’s difficult and trying not to think back on the play and consider diving or not because that’s who I am.” “There isn’t an off button. Whether it’s Game 7 of the World Series or spring training, it makes no difference. This is just one of the things I do when I play the game really hard. It’s an unusual occurrence. Everything continued while my glove became tangled in the grass.

Family promotes positive energy for TJ Friedl

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