Thursday, May 21

CINCINNATI -- Early on during Spring Training workouts, Reds manager Terry Francona shared that there might be sightings of everyday center fielder TJ Friedl playing some left field. He found his way out there in a few Cactus League games.

Why? The club had acquired strong defender Dane Myers from the Marlins over the offseason. Myers can play all three outfield spots, but he is best in center field. When told of the plan to give him some reps in left, Friedl didn't mind.

"If it’s going to help us win a ballgame and that’s what is needed that day, I will do whatever the team needs," Friedl said on Tuesday.

Over the first two series of the regular season, Francona gave Friedl one start in left field -- on Sunday vs. the Red Sox. In four games, Francona has brought in Myers for defense sometime in the later innings and moved Friedl to left field.

Francona has been pleased with the arrangement up to this point, and he compared Friedl's skills in left field to the Guardians' four-time Gold Glove Award winner Steven Kwan. Francona managed Kwan when he was Cleveland's manager (2013-23).

“I actually really like it," Francona said of the current arrangement. "Kwan, I know he might be playing center field a little bit for them now. We tried him in center but we just loved him in left. I look at TJ out there and it just reminds me so much [of that]. Like, he can change the game defensively out there. 

"I don’t want to force it. That’s why we did it in Spring Training, because we didn’t want to just throw him over there during the season because I had a feeling the way things were breaking, he’d work his way over there.”

For Friedl, who last played left field in 2023 for 23 games, including 12 starts, the adjustment period wasn't very tough.

"In the beginning, it was kind of like a little different getting back there," Friedl said. "I would say I got a good amount of work in between BP, practice and then the game scenarios to where I feel comfortable out there now whenever I need to go out there. On Sunday when I played left, I got four balls out there and I felt good. Every angle it was coming at me, I felt good.”

What's the biggest difference for Friedl in left field compared to center field? That's easy: it's the angle of how the ball comes his way.

“It’s most different with right-handed hitters," Friedl said. "With lefties, you can see the swing. You can see where their point of contact is so it’s a little easier to pick up where it’s going. But off of righties, it’s just a little harder because that’s their power side -- and top spin and back spin, the gap. It’s a harder angle.”

When balls to left-center field are hit between them, Friedl feels that he and Myers have been smooth.

“He’s very communicative and so am I. I’m loud out there, too. We work pretty well together," Friedl said.

If there were any questions about whether Reds top prospect and No. 20 overall prospect Sal Stewart could build off his promotion to the big leagues last September, the rookie first baseman has answered them emphatically. 

Stewart, 22, has already been named the National League Player of the Week  and has made some history in the first week of the season.

• How Stewart joined Reds royalty and became youngest since 1900 to do this

“I just feel like I was swinging at good pitches and sticking to my approach and game plan," said Stewart, who had not struck out this season until his final plate appearance on Monday vs. the Pirates. "Obviously, it was a great weekend, but I’ve just got to keep doing that every day.”

After being called up on Sept. 1 last season, Stewart led the Reds in the final month with five home runs. Through five games this season, he is batting .563 with a 1.807 OPS, two home runs and three RBIs.

Francona often cites Stewart's mature plate approach to being a key to his success. What does that mean?

“He uses the whole field," Francona said. "A lot of times you see guys come up and they strike out a ton. He doesn’t. He makes contact but he hits the ball with authority.”

The first Reds bobblehead giveaway of 2026 will be a unique one. On April 11, when the club hosts the Angels, fans will receive a Noelvi Marte bobblehead that depicts his game- (and season) saving leaping catch at the right field wall vs. the Pirates on Sept. 25.

The Marte bobblehead will be available to fans of all ages in attendance, while supplies last. See all the Reds' promos and giveaways for the season here.

• In his 2026 regular season debut, Chase Burns looked very good while earning his first big league win.

• On Sunday, Eugenio Suárez delivered his first game-changing home run since rejoining the Reds.

• Catch up on Reds injuries and most recent transactions here.

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