Veteran manager Terry Francona, who led the Cleveland Guardians to six postseason appearances and a World Series appearance in 2016, will not be in the dugout when the Cincinnati Reds open their Cactus League season against the Guardians on Saturday. Francona, along with former Cleveland coaches Brad Mills and Chris Valaika, will manage a split-squad Reds team against the Brewers instead.
Francona cited health reasons for stepping down from his position with the Guardians at the end of the 2023 season. He emphasized that the focus of the spring training games should be on the players and their development. Bryan Shaw, another former Guardian, will start for the Reds on Saturday against his former team.
The Guardians have yet to name a starting pitcher for the game. This spring, the two teams will face each other three times in Cactus League games. During the regular season, they will meet six times with the Ohio Cup on the line.
Despite initially stepping away from baseball to focus on his health and enjoy time away from the game, Francona was hired as the Reds’ new manager in October 2024. He expressed his commitment to his new team and the players, emphasizing the importance of being invested in the organization. The matchup between the Reds and Guardians in spring training serves as a reunion for Francona, Mills, Valaika, and Shaw as they embark on their new chapter with Cincinnati.
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