2018 World Series: Former Cincinnati Reds on the rosters

The World Series starts tonight. There are several former Cincinnati Reds, on both sides, that could be involved in the series.

And then there were two. We’ve seen the Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, and even the defending champion Houston Astros fall by the wayside, leaving the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox to face off in the World Series. Both the National League and American League Champions have former Cincinnati Reds players on their rosters.

The Dodgers have long been a rival of the Cincinnati Reds. Before realignment, both the Reds and the Dodgers played in the NL West and the two teams battled each other for supremacy. From 1974 until the league expanded following the1993 season, the Reds and Dodgers combined to win 11 of 20 National League West pennants.

In 14 of those 20 seasons, Los Angeles or Cincinnati finished second in the division. Eight of those 14 times it was too the other team. The Reds came in behind the Dodgers in 1977-78, 1985, 1988 and the Dodgers placed directly behind the Reds in 1975-76, 1981, and 1990.

Former Reds now in La La Land

A few former Reds have made their way out to the west coast. The most notable is probably their third baseman Justin Turner. Turner was drafted by the Reds in the seventh round of the 2006 MLB Draft. Turner was traded, along with former Red, Ryan Freel, during the 2008 Winter Meetings. Turner and Freel were shipped to Baltimore in exchange for catcher Ramon Hernadez.

Joining Turner in the Dodgers dugout is former Cincinnati Reds’ draftee Yasmani Grandal. Grandal was drafted 12th overall by the Reds in the 2010 MLB Draft. Grandal made it all the way through the Reds minor league system before being shipped west to San Diego along with Edinson Volquez, Yonder Alonso, and Brad Boxberger. That trade brought Mat Latos to the Queen City.

Dylan Floro was part of the Reds roster just this season. The right-handed reliever played 25 games for the Reds this season and maintained a 2.72 ERA before heading to Hollywood. Floro was traded for Dodgers’ prospects James Marinan and Aneurys Zabala. Floro has pitched quite well out of the LA bullpen this season.

Finally, we come to perhaps every Reds fan most hated player, Ryan Madson. That’s right, the same Ryan Madson (previously of the Washington Nationals) who plunked Joey Votto on his right knee causing the Reds All-Star to go on the DL. Yep, I’m still mad about that.

Madson got paid $8.5 million to be the Reds closer in 2012 but never played a game due to injury. He declined his option the following year and became a free agent. If Reds Country didn’t have a reason to cheer against the Dodgers, they do now.

Dat Dude in Beantown

While there’s only one recognizable face in the Boston Red Sox dugout, it’s a face that almost every single Reds fan adores. Yes, Dat Dude, Brandon Phillips is a member of the Boston Red Sox. Granted, he’s not been part of the ALDS or ALCS rosters, but he’s still part of the team.

The former All-Star, Gold Glover, and Silver Slugger signed a minor league contract with Boston back in June. After spending the majority of the season at Triple-A Pawtucket, Phillips was called up to the Sox in September. Phillips hit the game-winning home run against his former team, the Atlanta Braves, in his Red Sox debut.

Brandon Phillips was, and still is to this day, a fan favorite in the city of Cincinnati. His smile, outgoing personality with the fans, combined with his ridiculously amazing play on the field, has kept Phillips in the hearts of Reds Country even after being traded away in 2017. He only played in a handful of games this year for the Red Sox, but Phillips, regardless of if he’s on the World Series roster, would take home a ring if the Sox defeat the Dodgers.

Get ready Reds Country. The World Series starts tonight, and while the Cincinnati Reds are not part of this year’s festivities, there are plenty of players who’ve worn a Reds jersey who will be involved in what we all hope is a memorable World Series.