Reds Roster Shift
Cincinnati Reds Recall Resurgent Noelvi Marte, Option Struggling TJ Friedl to Triple-A Amid Offensive Struggles
The Cincinnati Reds optioned outfielder TJ Friedl to Triple-A Louisville and recalled Noelvi Marte to the active roster after Friedl struggled badly at the plate in 2026. Friedl, who had been a steady above-average contributor in recent seasons, is hitting roughly .179 with a low wRC+ and has seen major declines in production, prompting the team to give him a reset. The move comes as the Reds have been seeking more consistent offense, with team hitting performance lagging in the standings. Marte, though initially opening the season with limited and poor output in Cincinnati, rebounded in Triple-A by posting a strong slash line and power/overall production, leading to his return. Reports also note the Reds had been leaning on other lineup options and pinch-hit scenarios where Friedl did not deliver, reducing his fit on the roster. If Marte provides dependable at-bats in the outfield, the Reds believe they can stabilize their offense for the stretch ahead, while Friedl attempts to regain form in Louisville.
Key Points
This demotion marked Friedl’s first optional assignment in nearly four years—he had been in the majors or on the injured list since being recalled from Triple-A in August 2022.
Friedl’s 2026 slump includes more than a low BABIP: his batting line is .179/.259/.256 with 44 wRC+, aided by a BABIP around .230, but he’s also showing career-worst plate discipline with a 23.6% strikeout rate and a 7.3% walk rate, plus only two home runs.
Marte’s turnaround is part of a clear rebound arc: after opening 2026 with a .138 batting average over 11 games in Cincinnati, he was sent to Louisville and hit .369/.409/.575 with 8 home runs (and 16 extra-base hits overall) while playing center field regularly.
The Reds’ urgency is tied to overall offense struggles: one report noted Cincinnati’s team batting average was .229 (27th in MLB), and in the Royals series opener they lost 9-2 before bouncing back 4-3 in 10 innings with just four hits.
In a specific example of why Friedl’s late-inning utility fell short, he was chosen to pinch hit for Tyler Stephenson with a free runner on a bunt situation to get the runner to third—but he failed to execute the bunt and then struck out.
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