LOUISVILLE, Ky. — One Louisville Bats outfielder is making a big name for himself, first going undrafted to now having the largest signing bonus for a player bypassed in the draft.

TJ Friedl makes sure he never leaves the diamond clean. He's leading the Bats in nearly every stat this season – runs, hits, total bases, doubles, triples, homers and walks.

TJ Friedl, outfielder for the Louisville Bats, leads the team in runs, hits, total bases, doubles, triples, homers and walks.

“My dad always talked about Pete Rose, how hard he hustled and his jersey was always dirty and that's one thing I kind of take pride in," Friedl said. "If I walk off the field with a dirty jersey, I feel like I had a good day."

But success didn't come right off the bat for Friedl, who didn't earn a college scholarship until his junior year at the University of Nevada. He then went undrafted, unaware he was even eligible for the MLB draft.

“My four college roommates were getting all these draft letters and questionnaires and stuff and I never really received any of those ... and I was like, 'I did redshirt, so next year,'” Friedl said. "It wasn't until I got a phone call the week before the draft about being draft eligible that was kind of when I was like, 'Oh OK, I didn't know that, that's interesting.'"

After being tapped for Team USA during college, his performance gained the attention of several major league teams. At one point, Friedl hit .290 with a .536 slugging percentage, according to ESPN.

Friedl eventually reached an agreement with the Cincinnati Reds on a $732,500 signing bonus, the largest ever for a player bypassed in the MLB draft. Friedl credits his hard work and simplifying his game.

“There's such little time to react while you're up there. If you have other things thinking like, let me make sure my hands are in the right position, or let me get my foot down, just thinking of different things it just makes it harder,” Friedl said. “So when I say simplify that's kind of what I mean – just clear my mind, clear my thought process and just see the ball, hit the ball.”

A top 25 prospect in the Reds system, it looks as though the 25-year-old should see plenty of success in his future endeavors. Just like his cousin, University of Kentucky men's basketball head coach John Calipari.

Friedl’s dad, Coach Calipari, former IU coach Archie Miller and former Arizona coach Sean Miller used to play basketball together when Friedl’s dad was growing up.

“I've always watched college basketball day in and day out and always been a big Memphis fan, Kentucky fan, UofA fan, just watching them play has always been a big part of my life,” Friedl said. “I could have been a better shooter, maybe it'd be a different story but I wasn't a great shooter so stuck with the baseball bat.”

The Louisville Bats next game will be July 20 as they host the Memphis Redbirds.