Reds fans will love TJ Friedl's MLB Network honor.
Cincinnati Reds outfielder TJ Friedl had a strong year in 2025. On Friday, MLB Network rewarded him for his performance.
MLB Network's The Shredder is a system that ranks the top 10 players at each position based purely on data and numbers. Friedl landed at No. 9 on the top 10 center fielder overall list -- an impressive feat for an outfielder who has had an up and down career.
MLB Network's Top 10 Center Fielder List
Julio Rodriguez landed at the top spot. He is one of the better players in baseball, so his placement at No. 1 on the list was not surprising.
Wyatt Langford and Byron Buxton followed Rodriguez. One could argue that Buxton should have been higher than Langford on the list. Nevertheless, Langford is a young player with a bright future.
Jackson Merrill and Pete Crow-Armstrong rounded out the top five. Andy Pages, Trent Grisham, Daulton Varsho, Friedl and Oneil Cruz were ranked No. 6 to No. 10 in that order.
Friedl's placement on the list may surprise some. He has not received much attention throughout his career. The left-handed hitting outfielder quietly made a positive impact in 2026, however.
Friedl ended up slashing .261/.364/.378 across 152 games played. He added 14 home runs, 22 doubles, 82 runs scored and 12 stolen bases. His 2.3 WAR was the second highest mark of his career as well.
Defensively, Friedl ranked in the 72nd percentile in outs above average a season ago. He does not have the best throwing arm, but Friedl is a respectable defensive outfielder. Meanwhile, he provides enough offensive value to be regarded as a quality all-around ball player.
Sure, Friedl is not a superstar. He has yet to make an All-Star team. At 30 years old, Friedl has become a good player, though. The Reds need all of the offensive help they can get, so Friedl will certainly be an impactful player in 2026.
What to Expect from TJ Friedl in 2026
Friedl has an everyday role in Cincinnati. He seems to be comfortable with the Reds. It would not be surprising to see him have another strong year.
15-20 home runs is not out of the question for Friedl. He does a good job of getting on base and putting the ball in play as well, so he should be able to provide positive value for a Reds lineup that has a number of question marks.