The Cincinnati Reds are facing some tough decisions following the injury to starting center fielder TJ Friedl, who broke his right wrist during a diving play in spring training last Saturday.
Losing Friedl, one of their key players, is a significant setback for the Reds, especially considering they are already dealing with injuries to other important team members. Left-handed starter Nick Lodolo is expected to miss the start of the season due to a leg injury, while relievers Ian Gibaut and Alex Young are also sidelined with forearm and back issues, respectively.
To add to their challenges, promising rookie infielder Noelvi Marte has been suspended for the first 80 games of the season after testing positive for a banned substance.
Friedl’s injury, diagnosed as a non-displaced fracture in the distal radius, means he will be out for an unspecified period at the beginning of the season. In his absence, the Reds are considering options for center field, with Stuart Fairchild and Will Benson emerging as potential replacements.
With the season opener against the Washington Nationals approaching on March 28, the Reds are under pressure to find suitable solutions to fill the void left by Friedl’s absence.
