TJ Friedl was called up from Triple-A Louisville on Saturday morning, when he noticed his mother taking the escalator to baggage claim.
“It was quite great because we were walking to our baggage claim and TJ looks up and says, ‘hey, there’s my Mom,'” reliever Art Warren, who was called up on Saturday, recalled.
“‘What are you talking about,’ I said. ‘That’s my mother,’ I say. It was exciting to see his mother upon his callup. That was quite enjoyable.”
Friedl was taken aback because he knew his mother was due to arrive around the same time, but he didn’t expect to see her at the airport. His mother was dressed in his spring training uniform.
“When he saw that jersey, he said, ‘Dude, we have to surprise her,'” Friedl explained. “Well, I got a great video of that one.” I just patted her on the shoulder at random, and she turned around, astonished.”
Friedl, made his Major League debut on Saturday, pinch-hitting for Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly in the eighth inning. Friedl had a pop-out in the infield.
Friedl hit his first major-league home run when he pinch-hit in the sixth inning on Sunday. Tyler Stephenson, a dear friend and former roommate, gave him a bear embrace in the dugout.
With Winker, Akiyama, and Tyler Naquin sidelined, manager David Bell expects Friedl to get “several starts.”
Max Schrock, a left-handed hitter, is already a regular starter in left field against right-handed pitching, and Friedl, along with Delino DeShields and Jose Barrero, is a center field possibility.
Who Are TJ Friedl Parents?
Terry Friedl is TJ Friedl’s father. His mom’s name is not known at the moment.