TJ Friedl

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #20 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Friedl came to fame when he went undrafted as a draft-eligible sophomore in 2016. He then stood out for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, which helped him land a $735,000 bonus, which is the largest ever for a nondrafted free agent. Friedl’s 2019 season was delayed because of a shoulder injury and ended in early July because of an ankle injury, which meant his return to action in 2021 marked the end of a 21-month layoff. He made the most of it and made his MLB debut in September.
  
  Scouting Report: Friedl didn’t get a chance to play a full game until his sixth MLB appearance. That sums up Friedl’s likely role. He does a lot of things well, but probably not well enough to ever be a regular. He’s a lefthanded hitter who works counts, knows how to draw a walk and has gotten stronger to the point where he has below-average power. He can play all three outfield spots, pinch-hit or serve as a defensive replacement. His above-average speed, average arm and above-average defense in the outfield are all useful.
  
  The Future: Freidl went unpicked in two straight Rule 5 drafts before he made it to the majors. Even now, he’ll be a player who lives on the edge of the MLB roster, as backup outfielders are luxuries when the bullpen or rotation needs help. He’ll compete for a spot on Cincinnati’s bench.
  
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #24 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Thanks to draft rule changes, Friedl holds a record that may go unbroken for years. Friedl went overlooked as a draft-eligible sophomore, but after an impressive summer with USA Baseball, he set off a bidding war and signed with the Reds for $735,000. Now, nondrafted free agents are limited to signing for $20,000, or 2.7 percent of Freidl's bonus.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: After an injury-plagued 2019 season when he was slowed by a shoulder injury and then shut down because of an ankle injury, Friedl spent the summer at the Reds' alternate training site. There, he once again showed he's a pesky hitter who loves to work counts but doesn't really put much fear in a pitcher's heart. Freidl's well below-average power makes him more of a bottom-of-the-order bat, but he gets on base and should be an average hitter with a contact-oriented approach. He's a plus runner who can play above-average defense in center or left field. His arm is below-average.
  
  THE FUTURE: Friedl has been unpicked in back-to-back Rule 5 drafts. He's a fourth or fifth outfielder whose value is limited by his lack of impact, but he's ready for Triple-A and could help the Reds if injuries hit.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #18 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Friedl put on a show with Team USA's Collegiate National team in 2016 after being overlooked as a draft-eligible sophomore earlier that summer. The Reds signed him for $735,000 afterhis Team USA performance, the largest bonus ever given to an undrafted player. After quickly climbing to Double-A, Friedl went on the injured list three times during the 2019 season and was limited to just 65 games. He suffered a shoulder injury in April after sliding head-first into a base and battled right ankle tendinitis that ultimately ended his season on July 4.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Friedl is an undersized outfielder who knows his game. He uses a crouched, slightly closed stance at the plate with a swing built for contact, although he ran into trouble with strikeouts in the Southern League. He doesn't have much of strength and projects for below-average power. Friedl has plus speed and steals a fair amount of bases. He has above-average range in the outfield with a fringy arm that makes him best in either left or center field.
  
  THE FUTURE: Health will be paramount for Friedl in 2020. His leadership skills and athletic ability give him a chance to carve out a role as a reserve outfielder.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #12 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: After most teams failed to notice that Friedl was a draft-eligible sophomore, he went out and starred for Team USA's Collegiate National Team that summer, which set off a bidding war when teams realized he eligible to sign. Cincinnati signed Friedl for $735,000, the largest signing bonus ever given to an undrafted free agent. Friedl missed time in 2017 with a thumb injury, but he was fully healthy in 2018 as he bounced between left and center field.
  
  Scouting Report: Freidl has a feel for making contact with a high-contact, low-power approach. He has transitioned from using a slightly open stance with a leg-kick stride to using no stride. This change has allowed him to wait and not commit so early on pitches, which has helped his on-base percentage and his contract rate. He projects as an above-average hitter. He's an above-average defender in center field and plus in the corners with an average arm. He is also a plus runner who can handle all three outfield positions effectively. Friedl is a high-energy player who plays with plenty of intensity.
  
  The Future: Friedl doesn't have enough bat or power to be a big league regular, but he's a good fit as a backup outfielder thanks to his speed, defense, contact ability and hustle.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #17 prospect in 2018
  Friedl had one of the most engaging stories in 2016, when the Reds gave him $735,000, the highest-ever bonus for a non-drafted free agent. He was a redshirt sophomore at Nevada, and several area scouts didn't know that he was draft eligible while other scouts who did know he was draft eligible were worried about his somewhat slight frame. So he went unselected despite hitting .401 for the Wolf Pack. After he had a strong summer with USA Baseball's collegiate national team where he hit .290/.362/.452, the Reds won a bidding war for his services. Friedel's unique story may have brought him more notoriety than his actual skills. After hitting .284/.378/.472 at Low-A Dayton, he struggled to a .257/.313/.346 slash line in High-A Daytona, where he'll likely start 2018. Friedl has solid all-around tools, but no true plus skill. He's a good defender with a good enough arm to play all three spots. He makes contact at the plate and is a good bunter. He actually has a little more power than his slight frame would suggest, but neither his hit tool or power projects as better than fringe-average. Friedl projects as a fourth outfielder that would have to make serious strides at the plate to become an everyday regular. Still, he brings value off the bench, particularly with his defense and speed.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #15 prospect in 2017
  Very few amateur players truly slip through the cracks today, but Friedl did in 2016. Multiple area scouts didn't realize Friedl, a redshirt sophomore at Nevada, was even eligible to be drafted. Those scouts who did didn't dig too deeply even after he hit .401. (He also ranked among Baseball America's top draft-eligible prospects from the state of Nevada.) After Friedl starred with USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team in 2016, everyone took a second look, and a bidding war ensued among teams that had money left in their draft bonus pools. The Reds won the bidding and signed Freidl for $735,000, the highest bonus ever for a non-drafted free agent. He is an above-average center fielder with 70 speed on the 20-80 scouting scale. Ideally, he becomes a top-of-the-order hitter thanks to his plus hitting ability, albeit with below-average power. Friedl's speed plays well on the bases but he has work to do to learn how to bunt for hits. He probably will begin 2017 at high Class A Daytona and has a floor as a fourth outfielder but at least a chance to be a regular center fielder.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pioneer League #10 prospect in 2016
  The Reds gave Friedl the largest bonus ever for a domestic nondrafted free agent at $732,500. He flew under the radar as a redshirt sophomore despite hitting .401 at Nevada, though he shined for USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team before signing in August. With a good feel to hit, an advanced approach at the plate and below-average power, Friedl profiles as a prototype leadoff hitter and center fielder. He's aggressive to his pull side with plus bat speed but can also hit the opposite way. Friedl is an exciting player whose speed and sound instincts will keep him in center. Friedl was a bit worn down from the long season by the time he arrived in Billings, so his average arm could show as above-average by next spring.

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Friedl came to fame when he went undrafted as a draft-eligible sophomore in 2016. He then stood out for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, which helped him land a $735,000 bonus, which is the largest ever for a nondrafted free agent. Friedl’s 2019 season was delayed because of a shoulder injury and ended in early July because of an ankle injury, which meant his return to action in 2021 marked the end of a 21-month layoff. He made the most of it and made his MLB debut in September.
  
  Scouting Report: Friedl didn’t get a chance to play a full game until his sixth MLB appearance. That sums up Friedl’s likely role. He does a lot of things well, but probably not well enough to ever be a regular. He’s a lefthanded hitter who works counts, knows how to draw a walk and has gotten stronger to the point where he has below-average power. He can play all three outfield spots, pinch-hit or serve as a defensive replacement. His above-average speed, average arm and above-average defense in the outfield are all useful.
  
  The Future: Freidl went unpicked in two straight Rule 5 drafts before he made it to the majors. Even now, he’ll be a player who lives on the edge of the MLB roster, as backup outfielders are luxuries when the bullpen or rotation needs help. He’ll compete for a spot on Cincinnati’s bench.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Thanks to draft rule changes, Friedl holds a record that may go unbroken for years. Friedl went overlooked as a draft-eligible sophomore, but after an impressive summer with USA Baseball, he set off a bidding war and signed with the Reds for $735,000. Now, nondrafted free agents are limited to signing for $20,000, or 2.7 percent of Freidl's bonus.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: After an injury-plagued 2019 season when he was slowed by a shoulder injury and then shut down because of an ankle injury, Friedl spent the summer at the Reds' alternate training site. There, he once again showed he's a pesky hitter who loves to work counts but doesn't really put much fear in a pitcher's heart. Freidl's well below-average power makes him more of a bottom-of-the-order bat, but he gets on base and should be an average hitter with a contact-oriented approach. He's a plus runner who can play above-average defense in center or left field. His arm is below-average.
  
  THE FUTURE: Friedl has been unpicked in back-to-back Rule 5 drafts. He's a fourth or fifth outfielder whose value is limited by his lack of impact, but he's ready for Triple-A and could help the Reds if injuries hit.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Thanks to draft rule changes, Friedl holds a record that may go unbroken for years. Friedl went overlooked as a draft-eligible sophomore, but after an impressive summer with USA Baseball, he set off a bidding war and signed with the Reds for $735,000. Now, nondrafted free agents are limited to signing for $20,000, or 2.7 percent of Freidl's bonus.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: After an injury-plagued 2019 season when he was slowed by a shoulder injury and then shut down because of an ankle injury, Friedl spent the summer at the Reds' alternate training site. There, he once again showed he's a pesky hitter who loves to work counts but doesn't really put much fear in a pitcher's heart. Freidl's well below-average power makes him more of a bottom-of-the-order bat, but he gets on base and should be an average hitter with a contact-oriented approach. He's a plus runner who can play above-average defense in center or left field. His arm is below-average.
  
  THE FUTURE: Friedl has been unpicked in back-to-back Rule 5 drafts. He's a fourth or fifth outfielder whose value is limited by his lack of impact, but he's ready for Triple-A and could help the Reds if injuries hit.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Thanks to draft rule changes, Friedl holds a record that may go unbroken for years. Friedl went overlooked as a draft-eligible sophomore, but after an impressive summer with USA Baseball, he set off a bidding war and signed with the Reds for $735,000. Now, nondrafted free agents are limited to signing for $20,000, or 2.7 percent of Freidl's bonus.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: After an injury-plagued 2019 season when he was slowed by a shoulder injury and then shut down because of an ankle injury, Friedl spent the summer at the Reds' alternate training site. There, he once again showed he's a pesky hitter who loves to work counts but doesn't really put much fear in a pitcher's heart. Freidl's well below-average power makes him more of a bottom-of-the-order bat, but he gets on base and should be an average hitter with a contact-oriented approach. He's a plus runner who can play above-average defense in center or left field. His arm is below-average.
  
  THE FUTURE: Friedl has been unpicked in back-to-back Rule 5 drafts. He's a fourth or fifth outfielder whose value is limited by his lack of impact, but he's ready for Triple-A and could help the Reds if injuries hit.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Friedl put on a show with Team USA’s Collegiate National team in 2016 after being overlooked as a draft-eligible sophomore earlier that summer. The Reds signed him for $735,000 afterhis Team USA performance, the largest bonus ever given to an undrafted player. After quickly climbing to Double-A, Friedl went on the injured list three times during the 2019 season and was limited to just 65 games. He suffered a shoulder injury in April after sliding head-first into a base and battled right ankle tendinitis that ultimately ended his season on July 4.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Friedl is an undersized outfielder who knows his game. He uses a crouched, slightly closed stance at the plate with a swing built for contact, although he ran into trouble with strikeouts in the Southern League. He doesn’t have much of strength and projects for below-average power. Friedl has plus speed and steals a fair amount of bases. He has above-average range in the outfield with a fringy arm that makes him best in either left or center field.
  
  THE FUTURE: Health will be paramount for Friedl in 2020. His leadership skills and athletic ability give him a chance to carve out a role as a reserve outfielder.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Friedl put on a show with Team USA's Collegiate National team in 2016 after being overlooked as a draft-eligible sophomore earlier that summer. The Reds signed him for $735,000 afterhis Team USA performance, the largest bonus ever given to an undrafted player. After quickly climbing to Double-A, Friedl went on the injured list three times during the 2019 season and was limited to just 65 games. He suffered a shoulder injury in April after sliding head-first into a base and battled right ankle tendinitis that ultimately ended his season on July 4.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Friedl is an undersized outfielder who knows his game. He uses a crouched, slightly closed stance at the plate with a swing built for contact, although he ran into trouble with strikeouts in the Southern League. He doesn't have much of strength and projects for below-average power. Friedl has plus speed and steals a fair amount of bases. He has above-average range in the outfield with a fringy arm that makes him best in either left or center field.
  
  THE FUTURE: Health will be paramount for Friedl in 2020. His leadership skills and athletic ability give him a chance to carve out a role as a reserve outfielder.