CINCINNATI -- Bronson Arroyo’s final official appearance as a Red will be on a stage, not the mound.
The Reds announced “Kickin’ in with Bronson” for Sept. 23. Arroyo will be honored before the 4:10 p.m. game against the Boston Red Sox. Afterward, he’ll play a concert.
When Arroyo shut down this year, he and the Reds held out the possibility that he might throw an inning in September to cap his career.
That’s not going to happen.
“I talked with (Reds manager Bryan) Price,” Arroyo said. “It wouldn’t be right. We have so many young guys trying to get innings.”
Arroyo has barely thrown since his last appearance on June 18.
“I’ve picked up a ball maybe 10 times,” he said. “It’s OK from 50 feet, but once I get back like 100 feet, I get this dull ache running through my shoulder.”
Arroyo, 40, sees the concert as nice way to cap his career.
“Mini-concert,” he said. “A concert is three hours. Bronson Arroyo doesn’t have that kind of set. That’s Bruce Springsteen or Pearl Jam."
Despite not pitching, he likes the chance to perform for the fans one more time.
“I can’t contribute on the field,” he said. “This is a way to entertain the fans. I think sometimes we lose sight that we’re in the entertain business. You get caught up in wins and losses.”
Arroyo will perform with the local group of musicians he’s played with since he was traded to the Reds in 2006. He’ll play covers, not original stuff.
“I think people want to hear what they’re familiar with,” he said.
Arroyo plans to spend about a third of his time in Cincinnati. He has some ideas of how he will spend time with the team.
“I’m going to clean shoes with the guys in the clubhouse,” he said. “People always think I’m full of it when I say that. But I really am going to do it.”
