In 2019, when outfielder TJ Friedl was in his second season in Double-A in the Cincinnati Reds farm system, he stopped choking up on the bat, moved to an upright, open stance and started trying to hit the ball in the air more often.
He was trying to become a power hitter. But Friedl, who’s 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, didn’t have success when he tried to change who he was. He hit .235 with five home runs in 65 games in 2019, and he learned the lesson that helped get him to the big leagues.
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“I’m a guy who gets on base,” Friedl said.