Fantasy News

• Reds' TJ Friedl: Makes season debut

  Rotowire May 8, 2024

  Friedl started in center field, batted leadoff and went 0-for-4 in Tuesday's 6-2 loss to the Diamondbacks. Friedl made his season debut Tuesday after opening the season on the injured list due to a wrist injury. He was unable to change the team's recent fortunes -- the Reds lost their sixth straight and have scored 10 runs during that stretch -- but that's a lot of pressure to put on any player returning from a wrist injury, which can be tricky. He'll return to his everyday role as Cincinnati's leadoff hitter and center fielder.

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• Reds' TJ Friedl: Officially activated

  Rotowire May 7, 2024

  Friedl (wrist) was activated from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday. Friedl has been cleared for big-league action after missing the first month and change of the 2024 campaign with a fractured right wrist. His reinstatement aligns with the start of a three-game homestand against the Diamondbacks, where he'll likely replace Stuart Fairchild as the Reds' primary center fielder versus right-handed pitching. In four rehab starts at Triple-A Louisville, Friedl went 4-for-16 (.250) with three doubles, three runs scored and a pair of RBI.

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• Reds' TJ Friedl: Could return Tuesday

  Rotowire May 6, 2024

  Friedl (wrist) and team decision-makers were scheduled for a call Sunday evening to discuss the outfielder's potential return, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. Friedl, who made a fourth consecutive appearance Sunday on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville, could be activated as soon as Tuesday, when the Reds open a three-game series at home against the Diamondbacks. "There is a chance," manager David Bell said. "I think we are all going to be involved in that decision." Friedl fractured his right wrist while diving for a ball March 16 and opened the season on the injured list. He's 4-for-16 with three doubles while on rehab with the Bats.

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• Reds' TJ Friedl: Begins rehab assignment

  Rotowire May 4, 2024

  Friedl (wrist) began a rehab assignment Thursday and is 1-for-7 with a walk over two games for Triple-A Louisville. Friedl, batting in his customary leadoff spot, played seven innings at shortstop Thursday and a full game Friday as the designated hitter. Reds manager David Bell told Mike Petraglia of MLB.com that he'll have a better idea of Friedl's return timeline by the end of the weekend.

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• Reds' TJ Friedl: Cleared for rehab assignment

  Rotowire May 2, 2024

  Friedl (wrist) was sent to Triple-A Louisville on Thursday to begin a rehab assignment, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Friedl suffered a small fracture of the distal radius of his right wrist back in mid-March, but he's finally made enough progress in order to be cleared to play in games. Given how much time he's missed, Friedl will likely require a good number of rehab at-bats in the minors before returning from the 10-day injured list. The Reds' outfield situation is already crowded, but Friedl should play on a regular basis -- at least against right-handed pitching -- once he's activated.

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• Reds' TJ Friedl: Ramping up at complex

  Rotowire Apr 27, 2024

  Friedl (wrist) is ramping up baseball activities at the team's complex in Goodyear (Ariz.) and could begin playing games as a defensive player only this weekend, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. After serving as a defensive player only, Friedl could move onto bunting in games and possibly a rehab assignment by the middle of next week. Cincinnati manager David Bell said he'll need between one and two weeks before being ready to return, noting the need to build up at-bats.

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• Reds' TJ Friedl: Rehab stint is week or more away

  Rotowire Apr 19, 2024

  Reds manager David Bell said Friday that Friedl (wrist) could be about 7-to-10 days away from beginning a rehab assignment, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. Friedl has been building up strength in his fractured right wrist and ramping up his activity level. Things are going well so far, and if he continues on the same pace it sounds like he could be cleared for game action before the end of the month. While there's no timeline yet for his return to the active roster, Friedl makes for a viable stash if you have a free IL spot.

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• Reds' TJ Friedl: Remains limited to light activity

  Rotowire Apr 12, 2024

  Friedl (wrist) underwent a follow-up MRI on Thursday and it was determined that he needs another 7-to-10 days of lighter activity before ramping up, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Friedl had been hoping to be cleared for more activity at this point, but he will have to wait and let his wrist bone heal a bit more before increasing the intensity of his workouts. The center fielder landed awkwardly on a diving attempt in spring training and was diagnosed with a small fracture of the distal radius of his right wrist. Despite his slower than expected progress, a move to the 60-day IL seems unlikely unless Friedl is further delayed from here.

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• Reds' TJ Friedl: Scheduled for MRI

  Rotowire Apr 11, 2024

  Cincinnati manager David Bell said Friedl (wrist) is scheduled to undergo an MRI and check-in this week, Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Friedl opened the season on the 10-day injured list, which is a positive sign that the Reds believe he can return at some point before the end of May. The imaging and checkup could provide a clearer return timeline.

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• Reds' TJ Friedl: Placed on injured list

  Rotowire Mar 27, 2024

  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.

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• Reds' TJ Friedl: Could be back in six weeks

  Rotowire Mar 25, 2024

  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.

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• Reds' TJ Friedl: May avoid 60-day IL

  Rotowire Mar 23, 2024

  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.

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• Reds' TJ Friedl: Out with fractured wrist

  Rotowire Mar 17, 2024

  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.

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• Reds' TJ Friedl: Leaves game after diving attempt

  Rotowire Mar 16, 2024

  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.

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• Reds' TJ Friedl: Perfect Sunday

  Rotowire Mar 4, 2024

  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.

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• Reds' TJ Friedl: Having monster finish

  Rotowire Sep 27, 2023

  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.

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• Reds' TJ Friedl: On base five times

  Rotowire Sep 23, 2023

  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.

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• Reds' TJ Friedl: Notches two extra-base hits in win

  Rotowire Sep 11, 2023

  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.

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• Reds' TJ Friedl: Sitting against lefty

  Rotowire Sep 8, 2023

  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.

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• Reds' TJ Friedl: Absent from lineup

  Rotowire Sep 1, 2023

  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.

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