The Reds announced this afternoon that they have selected the contract of outfielder T.J. Hopkins. In corresponding moves, outfielder TJ Friedl was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain, while left-hander Nick Lodolo was transferred to the 60-day IL.
Hopkins, 26, was a ninth round pick by the Reds in the 2019 draft. Hopkins has largely hit well since getting his start in full-season ball at Double-A in 2021, with a .264/.339/.452 slash line in 717 plate appearances at the level. That production earned him a promotion to Triple-A late last season, where he posted a .255/.320/.436 slash line good for a league-average wRC+ of exactly 100 in 25 games, with a somewhat concerning 28.2% strikeout rate, the highest of his career at any level.
Returning to the Triple-A level this season, Hopkins has broken out in a big way as the outfielder has obliterated Triple-A pitching to the tune of a .341/.437/.540 slash line in 50 games, good for a wRC+ of 150 while his strikeout rate has dropped to a more palatable 24.6%. That fantastic performance has earned Hopkins his first chance in the big leagues, where he’s the next youngster promoted in a Reds youth movement that already included the likes of Matt McLain and Spencer Steer.
While most of his experience is in the outfield corners, Hopkins figures to replace the club’s center fielder in the lineup as Friedl heads to the IL with a hamstring strain. After two partial seasons as a roughly league average bat with the Reds in 2021 and 2022, Friedl has broken out in a big way so far this year, with a .246/.320/.434 slash line and strong defense in center field. That breakout will be put on hold now, however, at least for the time being. In the meantime, Hopkins figures to mix and match in the outfield alongside Jake Fraley, Stuart Fairchild, Jose Barrero, and Will Benson.
Lodolo’s placement on the 60-day IL hardly comes as a surprise after an MRI revealed a stress reaction in his left tibia last month. While Lodolo’s initial timetable for return was around a month after his mid-May injury, the stress reaction seemed likely to extend his timeline fro return, and his placement on the 60-day IL confirms that much, as he will now be out through the All Star break at minimum. After a fantastic rookie season where he posted a 3.66 ERA in 103 1/3 innings, Lodolo struggled early in his sophomore campaign, with a 6.29 ERA across seven starts prior to his placement on the injured list.
cguy
Wow Hopkins will have to remain on the 40-man roster while Votto and Myers return, plus the eventual promotions of EDLC, CES, and Andrew Abbott, Gonna be some trades or dfa(s).
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Bad news about Lodolo but the legs are an important part of pitching so not that surprising considering the injury.
Glad to see another kid get a cup of coffee while Friedl recovers.
Redsfan2020
Y not cesat 1b put steer at 3b move senzel center y the wate on ces delacruz the time is now front office give us reds fans what this team needs SOB son off bob
b00giem@n
Wtf? First compose your sentences in a manner that at least sounds like you know what you’re saying. Secondly, as a reds fan I’m a little tired of hearing “McClain called up” followed by “call up Cruz”
We have tons of talent and this move makes sense.
DCartrow
Trying to decipher Redsfan’s post makes me think of Jodie Foster in “Contact”
FullMontilla
Tayyay inna winn…
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“klaatu barada nikto”
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Neither one of those guys are outfielders (yet, anyway) and Senzel has proved he’s not an outfielder, which is why he’s been playing 3B and sometimes 2B mostly this season outside of injury.
Joe It All
“Excuse me stewardess, I speak jive”
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Redneck to Asian girl in a bar: “Y’all speak Engy?”
Asian girl cooly looks at him: “I speak English better than Y-O-U do.”
Really happened, witnessed it myself. Everybody laughed at the guy and he quickly exited.
She never paid for a drink after that, different people kept buying her one.
Sometimes people reinforce your belief in the evolution of the human race, despite the noise in the media and social media.
SanDiegoSuperDissapointingPadres
You just aged some of us in the room…
jorge78
Friendly is hitting. 326!
Come on Nick, pull it
together…..
Armaments216
TJ Friedl’s numbers for this season are much better than what’s stated in the article. His slash line so far in 2023 is .326/.377/.496
miggywrld
Good for TJ. We both are from the same town and played sports together growing up. Always been a hell of an athlete and a good guy. Hope he does well.
redrealist
Acquiring all these young shortstops was a unique approach by Krall, but pitching has and will always win baseball games. Our “Core 3” in the rotation is now just a promising Hunter Greene, an injured Lodolo and a terrible Ashcraft. Thank God for Ben Lively and Weaver doing better of late.
Anyway … Time to trade Noelvi Marte, Jose Barrero, Arroyo, and perhaps someone like Cam Collier for some promising young arms that are a year away. Just make darn sure they are HEALTHY.
This should be the lineup on June 19 when EDLC gets called up (I’m also assuming Votto never returns, which is plausible):
1. Friedl CF
2. McLain 3B
3. India 2B
4. De La Cruz SS
5. Steer 1B
6. Stephenson C
7.. Fraley RF
8. Encarnacion-Strand DH
9. Senzel LF
That’s the lineup of the future. Not bad. But again, our starting rotation is a joke. Sure wish we had Sonny Gray instead of Chase Petty in Dayton. Reds could compete this year with a better starting rotation.
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The Reds do not have a good record obtaining young arms that are healthy. Justin Dunn is the latest example from a lot of bad road there.
octavian8
Good lineup. Only change I would make is switching India and McLain at 2nd and 3rd. India was a 3B until his call up and McLain projects better at 2B. Gotta work Marte in there somewhere next year also. Good problems to have.
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I would switch McLain and De La Cruz, which is the way it was in Louiville when they were both there, I believe. Marte will probably be in LF in this lineup when Senzel is traded or injured again. I don’t see Barrero showing enough to hang on either. Maybe they can trade those or guys like Myers or Newman for some relievers with an actual track record to get them to Diaz.