Barry Larkin's newest venture opens the door for Reds legend to return in new role

Barry Larkin has a new gig. While Larkin is still expected to be part of the Cincinnati Reds broadcast team for the upcoming 2025 season, the Hall of Famer recently joined a group attempting to bring Major League Baseball to Orlando, Florida.

The idea of MLB expansion has become quite popular, and there are numerous North American cities that've staked their claim to become the next destination for professional baseball. Larkin will now serve as an ambassador for the Orlando Dreamers in an effort to help enhance the city's efforts to bring Major League Baseball to central Florida.

The Dreamers have hundreds of millions of dollars-worth of verbal commitments with plans to develop a 35-plus acre site near SeaWorld Orlando. If Larkin's commitments become more intense — be it this year or in the future — it could open up the possibility of another Reds' legend taking his seat alongside Jon Sadak in the broadcast booth.

Could Joey Votto replace Barry Larkin in the Reds broadcast booth?

At the moment, there's no reason to believe that Larkin's new role as an ambassador for the Orlando Dreamers would impact his ability to take hold of the mic for 81 Reds' home games during the upcoming season. Chris Welsh and Jeff Brantley have routinely split color-commentary duties on the road while Larkin handles the home games.

But after his retirement in 2024, the idea of Joey Votto returning to Cincinnati has become a popular one among the Reds fanbase. Though somewhat polarizing during his final few years in the Queen City, Votto is generally beloved by the majority of the Cincinnati faithful.

He's also tried his hand in the broadcast booth in the past. Votto underwent shoulder and biceps surgery in 2022 and missed the second-half of the season. The six-time All-Star made a handful of cameo appearances alongside Larkin and Sadak in the Bally Sports (now FanDuel Sports Network) broadcast booth that season.

Votto has spoken often about his desire to maintain some type of role in baseball after his playing career. Larkin's future venture could afford the former NL MVP an opportunity to do just that. Though that type of role doesn't necessarseem imminent, it's definitely worth keeping an eye on.

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