Pain was the price of admission to MLB history Friday night for Cincinnati Reds center fielder TJ Friedl. The leadoff man was hit by a pitch three times in a 8-4 win over the New York Mets, tying a major-league record.

“It’s a lot of money on the table if I make it,” New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto told reporters this month, one of several comments the slugger has made since he left the New York Yankees to sign a megadeal with the New York Mets that rankled those who believe highly paid players should not show how much they care about being highly paid.