3 surprises that will shock fans when the 2025 Reds Opening Day roster is revealed

The Cincinnati Reds have a few items to figure out ahead of Opening Day. Reds manager Terry Francona has already named 80% of his starting rotation, but the trio of Andrew Abbott, Graham Ashcraft, and Carson Spiers are still jockeying for position.

The Reds recent roster cuts over the weekend trimmed the number of those competing for a spot to just 39. After optioning Will Benson to Triple-A and reassigning Zach Maxwell, Luis Torres Jr., and others to minor-league camp, Cincinnati only has a handful of decisions left to make before the team takes the field against the San Francisco Giants next week.

But there's always a couple of surprise additions (or subtractions) when Opening Day roster are revealed. What three unexpected moves will send shockwaves through the Reds fanbase after the Opening Day roster is announced?

3 surprises that will shock fans when Reds Opening Day roster is revealed

Jacob Hurtubise secures final spot on Reds Opening Day roster

After seeing the Reds option Benson to Triple-A Louisville and assuming that Spencer Steer opens the 2025 season on the IL, the chase for the final spot on the Opening Day roster comes down to a pair of outfielders; Blake Dunn or Jacob Hurtubise. Conventional wisdom suggests that Dunn will get the final spot, but don't sleep on the idea of Hurtubise snagging it instead.

Hurtubise plays an exciting brand of baseball. His speed makes him a threat on the base paths every time he's aboard, he possesses high on-base skills while rarely striking out, and can play all three outfield spots. Though Dunn's right-handed bat might be preferable to Hurtubise's left-handed swing, the West Point graduate has outplayed Dunn all spring and deserves a spot on the Reds Opening Day roster.

Cincy reunites with Luke Maile after Royals DFA former Reds catcher

The Reds are going to need a backup catcher. Cincinnati could turn to one of Austin Wynns or Will Banfield, but if the Kansas City Royals designate Luke Maile for assignment, look for the Reds to reunite with their former backstop.

Maile has been raking at Royals' camp this spring. The northern Kentucky native is hitting .333/.368/.611 with a 148 wRC+. His familiarity with the Reds' pitching staff is a bonus, and with Tyler Stephenson only likely to miss the first month of the season, this is more a stop-gap move rather than a long-term solution. Maile played for Terry Francona in 2022, so there's reason to believe the Reds skipper would have no issue bringing the former Kentucky Wildcat into the fold.

Reds closer Alexis Díaz optioned to Triple-A Louisville to begin the 2025 season

Díaz missed a large chunk of camp and it shows. The Reds closer was sidelined earlier this month after suffering a mild hamstring injury during fielding practice. Díaz has since returned to the mound and made three appearances covering just 2 ⅓ innings and has looked horrific.

The right-hander currently owns a 19.29 ERA. While that's obviously a product of small sample size, a closer look reveals that Díaz has faced 18 batters, issued five free passes, allowed five hits, and struck out just one. Francona cannot, in good conscience, head into Opening Day with Díaz taking the ball in the ninth inning with a lead.

Díaz needs a tuneup in Louisville before rejoining his teammates in the big leagues. Some combination of Emilio Pagán, Taylor Rogers, and Scott Barlow are more than capable of locking down the ninth inning until Díaz returns to form.

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