How many players from Opening Day are still on the Reds active roster?

The Cincinnati Reds began the 2023 season with very little expectations. The team had just come off a 100-loss campaign the year before, were without their best player in Joey Votto, and had a bullpen that was questionable at best.

What a difference a few months make, huh? The Reds are now in the thick of the NL Wild Card race and are hanging tough with some of the best teams in baseball while operating with a piecemeal roster comprised of castoffs, veterans, rookies, and prospects.

Each team began the 2023 season with 26 players on their Opening Day rosters. How many Reds players, who were part of David Bell's lineup on March 30th, are still on the active roster today?

How many players from Opening Day are still on the Reds active roster?

Of the 28 players currently on the Cincinnati Reds active roster, only 11 were on the team's 2023 Opening Day roster. That list includes Alexis Diaz, Buck Farmer, Spencer Steer, Jake Fraley, Stuart Fairchild, Derek Law, TJ Friedl, Ian Gibaut, Luke Maile, Will Benson, and Tyler Stephenson. That's it.

Joey Votto, who was on the injured to begin the season, is on the IL at the moment. Luke Weaver began the season on the IL and was designated for assignment last month. Wil Myers has since been DFA'd as well. The team's Opening Day first baseman (Jason Vosler) and shortstop (Jose Barrero) are both in Triple-A.

Believe it or not, no pitcher currently in the Reds starting rotation, was on the Opening Day roster. Andrew Abbott, Carson Spiers, Lyon Richardson, Connor Phillips, and Brett Kennedy were all in the minor leagues to begin the season.

On the flip side, all five pitchers who comprised Cincinnati's starting rotation to begin the season are either on the injured list or have been released. Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Connor Overton, and Graham Ashcraft are all out of commission, and Luis Cessa was DFA'd just weeks into the season.

Outside of Spencer Steer, the Reds entire starting infield has changed. Not only that, but Steer is no longer holding down the hot corner like he was on Opening Day. Instead, the rookie is manning second base. Vosler, Barrero, Kevin Newman, and Jonathan India are not on the active roster.

When you're really able to take a step back and see the development of the Reds rookies and see how far this team has come, it's really rather miraculous that David Bell's squad is even the playoff conversation at the moment. And yet, here we are.