TJ Friedl Ties MLB Record by Being Hit Three Times!
New York – Incredible! Cincinnati Reds outfielder TJ Friedl tied a Major League record on Friday night, being hit by pitches on three separate occasions by New York Mets pitchers. The 5’8″ player was hit by a 91 mph fastball on the left forearm by left-hander Sean Manaea in the third inning. Then, an 85 mph slider from right-handed reliever Alex Carrillo hit him on the left foot in the fifth inning. To conclude, Mets’ lefty Brandon Waddell hit Friedl on the left hand with a 91 mph sinker in the eighth inning.This is the 39th time in the modern era (since 1901) that a batter has been hit three times in a game. This has happened to 34 different players. The only previous Reds batter to achieve this was Derek Dietrich in Milwaukee on June 21, 2019.“Left-handers, it makes more sense because everything goes outwards and I try to get in there,” Friedl commented. “The last one, that hurt!”
TJ Friedl
Two other Major League players have been hit three times in a game this season: Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams on May 31 in Arizona, and Tyler Freeman of the Rockies on June 17 in Washington.
Despite this, Friedl, who batted as the leadoff hitter, finished the game hitless in two at-bats, but scored two runs in the 8-4 victory over the Mets. He is expected to be in the lineup on Saturday and joked that he didn’t want a day off anyway.
