TJ Friedl made his long awaited major league debut with a pinch hit appearance in the Cincinnati Reds 5-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday afternoon. With 13 games remaining and so many injuries in the outfield, it’s time to see what Friedl’s made of. The 26-year-old should be in David Bell’s lineup on a regular basis.
Friedl should be the team’s starting centerfielder any time a right-handed pitcher toes the rubber. When a southpaw is on the bump, I’m fine with Delino DeShields getting the start. With Tyler Naquin, Jesse Winker, and Shogo Akiyama all on the IL, you have to assume that left field will be a platoon of Aristides Aquino and Max Schrock.