Frankie Montas discusses being the Reds' 2024 Opening Day starter

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — When Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Frankie Montas learned that he was going to be this year’s Opening Day starter, Reds manager David Bell told Montas how important the first game of the season was to the city of Cincinnati.

“He told me it’s a big thing in Cincinnati,” Montas said. “That raises the bar for me with excitement. It’ll make it more exciting to go out there and put on a show.”

Montas only pitched in one big league game last year as he came back from a shoulder injury. He signed a one-year prove-it deal with the Reds and has had the best spring of any pitcher in camp.

Reds manager David Bell said that Montas has been one of the best arms in the game when he has been healthy. Montas is healthy now, and his strong first impression helped him land the Opening Day start.

“It’s a blessing,” Montas said. “To know that they trust me in that role, I’m looking forward to it.”After Montas learned the news, he told Bell, “whoever you chose would get the job done.” Hunter Greene was a strong candidate, and Andrew Abbott and Graham Ashcraft both led the Reds’ rotation at different points this year.In 2024, Montas opens the season as the No. 1 pitcher in the Reds’ rotation.

“It’s just the first of 33 or 34 starts,” Montas said. “I’ll try to treat it as a normal game. It’s just the start of the season. You try to set the tone and start the year with a win.”

Former Red Jonny Gomes is a part of this year's spring training

Former Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jonny Gomes has been at Reds spring training over the last week as a guest invite. During that stretch, he has worked with big league players and coached first base in a few spring training games.

“He has a lot of knowledge, experience and energy,” Reds manager David Bell said. “He definitely has a lot of thoughts that are really well thought out because of his experiences in the game. He cares a lot about whatever he does. Already in a week, he’s pretty invested in our team. It doesn’t always work like that when you have someone in camp for a week or 10 days. He’s all in."

Gomes played for the Reds between 2009 and 2011 as a part of his 13-year MLB career. Gomes, now 43 years old, played his final big league season in 2015 and later coached in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization.

With the Diamondbacks, Gomes worked closely with David Bell’s late brother Mike Bell, who oversaw the Diamondbacks’ farm system for nine years. Gomes also worked in the Diamondbacks’ organization with Reds catching coach J.R. House.

This week, Gomes has been wearing a Reds uniform with his No. 31 on it and has been an active part of spring training practices.

“He has had a lot of really good conversations,” Bell said. “It’s been great having him around.”

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Frankie Montas discusses being the Reds' 2024 Opening Day starter