Advertisement

Opening Day 2024: Cincinnati Reds announce this former player will throw first pitch

Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer
·2 min read

Despite a rocky spring training season complete with injuries to center fielder TJ Friedl and second baseman Matt McLain, the Cincinnati Reds 2024 season is nearly underway.

The long-awaited Opening Day arrives this Thursday, March 28, when the Reds will host the Washington Nationals at Great American Ball Park.

News of the team's Opening Day roster and new food at the ballpark are being rolled out. But who's slated to throw the ceremonial first pitch?

Who's throwing out the first pitch for the Reds' Opening Day game?

The team announced Monday morning that former Reds first baseman Sean Casey will be delivering the ceremonial first pitch before Thursday's Opening Day game.

Casey played for five teams in his career, including the Reds from 1998 to 2005 and is a member of the team's Hall of Fame. After 12 seasons and three MLB All-Star games in the league, Casey announced his retirement in 2009 at 34-years-old.

Sean Casey, during a workout prior to Opening Day in 2001, played for the Reds from 1998-2005 and is a member of the Reds Hall of Fame.
Sean Casey, during a workout prior to Opening Day in 2001, played for the Reds from 1998-2005 and is a member of the Reds Hall of Fame.

Over the course of his career, Casey was granted the nickname "The Mayor" because of his outgoing personality and reputation for chatting with every runner who made it to first base.

Last year, former Reds player Todd Frazier received the honor of throwing out the first pitch. Frazier played on the Reds for five seasons between 2011 and 2015, earning two All-Star selections, including winning the Home Run Derby during All-Star festivities at Great American Ball Park in 2015.

Who is the grand marshal for the Reds' Opening Day parade?

The news is in: Dmitri Young and Calvin "Pokey" Reese will lead the 105th Findlay Market Opening Day Parade starting at noon Thursday.

Young, a two-time All-Star, was a first baseman and outfielder for the Reds from 1998-2001.

Reese made his MLB debut with the Reds in 1997 and played as a shortstop through 2001. He won two Gold Glove Awards for defensive prowess with the Reds, and went on to win a World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 2004.

Cincinnati radio legend Jim Scott will serve as the parade's honorary grand marshal. The former WLW-AM (700) morning radio host was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, in 2022. He has marched in the Findlay Market Opening Day Parade for over 50 years and served as its official spokesperson for the last decade.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Who's throwing the first pitch for Reds Opening Day?