CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds home opener is less than two weeks away, and team president Phil Castellini said there are still tickets available at Great American Ball Park.
"Because of the date change, a lot of people who had the plans for tomorrow's game couldn't make it," Castellini said. "We still have opening day tickets available, which I don't think I've ever been able to say at this podium at this time of year."
Cincinnati Reds President Phil Castellini said there are still tickets to the team's home opener against the Cleveland Guardians April 12.
According to the team's website, tickets are available in every section of the 500 level, as well as in the outer mezzanine, bleachers and sun deck. While Castellini said the lockout had a lot to do with ticket availability, some fans said people are not buying tickets following a fire sale that saw Sonny Gray, Jesse Winker, Eugenio Suarez and more shipped off for prospects.
If I had to guess…. I’d say it has something to do with, trading away your best players, fan favorites 🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
— Boe Tussey (@rlt1982) March 30, 2022
Castellini acknowledged the moves, saying the team traded assets "to get more assets to feed (our) pipeline."
"Rest assured, we are here, we are committed and we do believe in (Reds GM) Nick Krall and everything he's doing in our baseball operations," Castellini said. "In the last three years, he's taken that farm system from 28th-ranked in the league to a top-10 system."
MLB.com ranks the Reds farm system 15th in the league, listing pitchers Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo as top 50 prospects. The Reds received pitching prospect Chance Petty, drafted 26th overall in the 2021 MLB Draft, in the Sonny Gray trade. The Mariners sent Cincinnati pitchers Connor Phillips and Justin Dunn, as well as outfielder Jake Fraley, for Winker and Suarez.
While the Reds might be adding prospects to help them in the future, the available tickets are for this season. Some fans on social media have expressed disappointment in this year's roster and Krall's quote about "(aligning) our payroll" in 2022. Some have even called for owner Bob Castellini to "#SellTheTeam."
Hey, fans are just aligning their pocketbooks with their resources 🤷♂️
— Sam Cosby (@CosbyShow_) March 30, 2022
Still, Castellini called for fans to trust the front office and come to games.
"I think if you watched any spring training games, this is a good, entertaining team and I think you'll see that play out on Opening Day and throughout the season," Castellini said. "So have a little bit of faith in what we're doing with your Cincinnati Reds."
The Reds start the 2022 season on the road in Atlanta April 7. The Findlay Market Opening Day Parade will take place before the team's home opener April 12. Hall of Famer Barry Larkin will serve as grand marshal.
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