Hope soars during Air Force Museum stop
RIVERSIDE – Optimism turned out Saturday for the Cincinnati Reds Caravan stop at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.
Fans occupied every seat for the first time in several years. Many more stood outside the ropedoff area where fans sat listening to a Q&A session then stood up a row at a time for autographs from manager David Bell, new starting pitcher Frankie Montas and 2023 first-round pitching prospects Rhett Lowder and Ty Floyd.
The young and aggressive Reds exceeded expectations last season with 82 victories. Season-ticket sales are up this year and crowds of 30,000-plus are expected for weekend series. The opening three-game series against Washington can’t come soon enough for the Reds.
“I woke up today thinking we’re two months from opening day,” Bell said, showing a slight grin. “It’s a very exciting time.”
No one flashed a bigger smile than Montas, the 30-year-old free agent starting pitcher coming back from a shoulder injury. The eightyear veteran will fill the experience role in the Reds’ young and talented starting rotation.
“You guys saw the energy they had at the end of last season, so I think as a team we all trying to build off of that,” Montas said. “When you’re on a team that has that energy, that’s contagious, and I want to be part of that energy. I want to contribute as much as I can.”
Montas, who has a career 3.90 ERA and has made 99 starts, began his comeback from arthroscopic shoulder surgery at the end of last season. After making eight starts for the Yankees in 2022, he pitched a scoreless 1 1/3 innings in one appearance.