Report: Reds to sign OF prospect TJ Friedl

 

The Reds’ 2016 draft class may not be complete just yet, as the team is reportedly close to signing Nevada outfielder TJ Friedl.

 

MLBPipeline.com’s Jonathan Mayo reported the Reds will sign Friedl. Major League sources tell The Enquirer that the Reds could indeed land Friedl, but general manager Dick Williams would not comment when contacted on Friday.

 

Friedl, 21, redshirted in 2015 and was eligible for the draft, but only afterward did teams learn of his eligibility to sign. He can sign as a non-drafted free agent.

 

The Reds had the largest signing pool in the 2016 draft and had some money left over in their pool. The team can spend up to five percent over its allotted pool money before suffering a penalty. That would give the Reds more than $700,000 left in their pool to utilize.

 

As a redshirt sophomore at Nevada last season, the left-handed Friedl hit .401/.494/.563 with three home runs, 35 RBI and 13 stolen bases. It wasn't until scouts saw the 5-foot-10 California native play for Team USA that they dug deeper into his background and discovered he was eligible to sign.

 

Friedl recently completed a month-long tour with the USA Collegiate National Team with games in the United States, Taiwan, Japan and Cuba. In 18 total games and 15 starts, Friedl hit .290/.362/.452, a home run, nine RBI and four stolen bases.

Saw where had it been known he was eligible he profiled out as a compensatory or 2nd round pick. Really nice value for the Reds.

Saw where had it been known he was eligible he profiled out as a compensatory or 2nd round pick. Really nice value for the Reds.

 

Sounds like a steal to me. Looks like he's an on base machine.

Saw where had it been known he was eligible he profiled out as a compensatory or 2nd round pick. Really nice value for the Reds.

 

Thanks, this answered my question in the other thread. Glad to see the Reds getting the leg up on other teams for a change.