Reds option 1 player while another is set to receive huge opportunity

It seems like the Cincinnati Reds have a ton of young talent, and they don’t know what to do with them all. Earlier this season, the Reds traded one of those young, talented players to the Baltimore Orioles, Christian Encarnacion-Strand. This was a move that signified that they are trying to create room for more upcoming prospects. That trade was later followed by the call-up of Edwin Arroyo, the Reds’ No. 3 prospect.

On Wednesday, ahead of the series finale against the Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati has called up Noelvi Marte from Triple-A, once again.

“The Reds today recalled from Triple-A Louisville OF Noelvi Marte and optioned to Louisville OF TJ Friedl (post-game 6/2).”

Marte has all the tools to be a great hitter with the Reds, and he has proved it in the past. He has just had a hard time staying on the roster. When the Reds signed Eugenio Suarez, that didn’t help his case either. As a corresponding move to bringing up Marte, the Reds have shockingly optioned TJ Friedl back to Triple-A.

Friedl debuted with the Reds in 2021 and has played at least 72 games with the team since 2022, including two seasons of 138+ games. 2026 is off to a rough start as he hit only .179 with two home runs and a .515 OPS. His WAR sits at a career-worst of -0.6. A reset in triple-A could help him regain his confidence.

Marte could light a spark for the Reds as they compete in a tough NL Central division. Every team has a winning record, but the Reds are 5th at 31-29. On the season, Marte is hitting .138 with zero home runs and zero RBIs. He has just four hits in 29 at-bats on the season. Hopefully, this time, Marte can quickly settle in and make a big impact in 2026.

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