Opening Day: India’s expected debut one storyline to follow for Reds fans

Reds play the Cardinals at 4:10 p.m. Thursday in 2021 opener

The Cincinnati Reds officially announced Wednesday, one day before Opening Day, the news of Jonathan India making the roster. India himself found out earlier in the month when manager David Bell delivered the news.

“It was kind of emotional,” India said. “He said he was very proud of me. It’s something I’ll never forget.”

Assuming India starts at second base at 4:10 p.m. Thursday, he’ll be the only Reds rookie in the Opening Day lineup, and he’ll be the rare player who makes his big-league debut as a starter on Opening Day.

“It’s a crazy feeling,” India said. “It’s something I’ve dreamed about since I was 4 years old. To be in this position, it still hasn’t hit me. It won’t really hit me until (Thursday), and I’m under the lights and playing. I’m not going to let this opportunity slip. I’m going to be here for a while.”

India, the No. 5 draft pick in the first round in 2018, earned the job by hitting .313 (15 for 48) with three home runs in 22 games this spring. He said his parents will be among the fans in attendance at Great American Ball Park.

“I’ve loved this game since I was 4 years old,” India said. “I’ve always known I’ve had the ability to play this game. It took a lot of hard work to be where I’m at. I sacrificed a lot to be here.”

India’s debut will be one thing to watch as the Reds’ 2021 season begins. Here are three more storylines to follow on Opening Day.

1. Tragedy overshadows start of David Bell’s third season

The Reds manager lost his younger brother Mike Bell on Friday to kidney cancer. A Twins bench coach who played for the Reds in 2000, his only season in the big leagues, Bell died at 46.

David Bell returned to the dugout Monday for the last Reds’ spring training game and will be in the dugout Thursday.

“You try to put yourself in anyone’s shoes in a situation like that, and you can’t even begin to think or feel what that’s like,” Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart said. “I’ve got to think being on a baseball field and being around this organization brought some normalcy at a time when it’s far from that in his personal life. We all talk about this game being a getaway from normal life. I think it was just that for him. Hopefully, starting (Thursday) we can start winning some games not only for us as an organization but for him and his family.”

2. Eugenio Suarez returns to shortstop

Suarez played shortstop in his rookie season with the Detroit Tigers in 2014 and in his first season with the Reds in 2015, but he has played third base the last five seasons. He last appeared in a regular-season game at shortstop in 2018 but moved to the position this spring and made 10 starts in Cactus League play.

India’s performance allowed the Reds to restructure the infield, moving Suarez from third base to shortstop and Mike Moustakas from second base to third base.

“My first couple games were a little scary,” Suarez said Wednesday. “I was nervous a little bit. When I started to play more at shortstop, I started to feel comfortable. Now I feel normal. I want to play every day. If you play every day, you know how to play. I’m ready to play. I’m so excited. I can’t wait until tomorrow.”

3. Luis Castillo makes his second Opening Day start

With the Reds’ first Cy Young Award winner, Trevor Bauer, signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Sonny Gray, last year’s Opening Day starter, sidelined for at least the start of the season with a back issue, Luis Castillo is the Reds’ ace as the season begins. He will make his second Opening Day start and first since 2019.

Pitching coach Derek Johnson praised Castillo’s performance in March and said he had not seen him pitch better in spring training. Of course, going from pitching in the Arizona weather to taking the mound with the temperature under 40 degrees could be a challenge for Castillo and all the pitchers Thursday.

“He’s really happy,” Johnson said. “He’s been happy every time we’ve told him he’s going to start on Opening Day. He had a huge smile on his face in 2019. I think the weather has to be a factor. It seems like it’s going to be really cold. I know he’ll throw the ball hard. I think we just have to be careful.”

OPENING DAY

Thursday, April 1

Cardinals at Reds, 4:10 p.m., FS Ohio, 700, 1410

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