It was the equivalent of love at first sight for the Cincinnati Reds.

Just a few days after their disappointing 2024 season ended, Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall and general manager Brad Meador traveled to Tucson, Ariz. They met with Terry Francona, who took a year off from baseball last year following 11 seasons as the Cleveland Guardians’ manager.

Krall and Meador wanted to see if Francona had any interest in returning to the dugout. Francona wasn’t necessarily looking to make a comeback, but he wanted to extend the courtesy to the Reds of listening to what they had to say.

Cincinnati Reds And Francona Immediate Match

“About a half hour into our conversation, I caught myself saying ‘we,’” Francona said. “I thought that was kind of crazy since I barely knew them, but it just felt so comfortable, like such a good fit. I felt like I had known them for a long time.”

Krall and Meador felt the same way.

“Just the way he interacts with people, treat people, is really amazing,” Krall said. “He makes you feel comfortable right away. It’s easy to see why he has such a great reputation for being able to connect with people.

“He’s tremendous. He’s a lot of fun and he has good insight and good input into a lot of things. It’s been really easy conversations.”

Reds owner Bob Castellini arrived in Tucson the next day and Francona agreed to join the Reds. And now Francona will try to get the Reds to the postseason for the first time since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Cincinnati hasn’t been to the playoffs in a full season since 2013.

“I’m so excited,” Francona said. “I think we have a chance to have a good team. And that’s all you ever want, is a chance.”

Cincinnati Reds Believe Francona Will Make Difference

The Reds entered last season with hopes of making the playoffs but finished with a 77-85 record and in fourth place in the National League Central, 16 games behind the champion Milwaukee Brewers. Manager David Bell was fired with a week left in the season.

Krall believes Francona is the right manager to lift the Reds.

It’s been great to have a guy you know – and he’s going to be a Hall of Fame manager – is somebody who can maximize our club’s talent and potential,” Krall said.

Francona has a strong case for eventual induction in Cooperstown with a career record of 1,950-1,672 in 23 seasons. He won World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 2004 and 2007 then guided Cleveland to the American League pennant in 2016.

Cincinnati Reds Have Cornerstone Players

Francona inherits two cornerstone players in right-hander Hunter Greene and shortstop Elly De La Cruz.

Greene is 25 and coming off a breakout season in which he had a 9-5 record and 2.75 ERA in 26 starts. The Reds chose Greene with the second overall pick in the 2017 amateur draft. He begins the third year of a six-year, $53-million contract.

“There’s been a learning curve for Hunter, and he’s had his ups and downs, but we’ve always believed in his talent and his work ethic,” Krall said. “It all came together for him last year but he wants to keep improving. He wants to be great.”

De La Cruz hit 25 home runs and stole an MLB-high 67 bases last year in his first full big-league season. The 23-year-old also has his flaws – his 218 strikeouts and 29 errors were league highs – but his talent is intriguing.

“He’s one of the best athletes I’ve ever seen on a baseball field,” Krall said. “He loves the game. He loves to play, and he really loves to work at his craft and get better. It’s really been fun to watch him go from a guy who came over to the States, played rookie ball then move all the way up through our system and continue to get better. He’s only going to get better. He’s not a finished product by any stretch.”

Francona spent last year getting healthy. He underwent two hernia operations and had shoulder replacement surgery.

“It was just a struggle that last year in Cleveland (in 2023) and I just didn’t think I was doing the job the way I should,” Francona said. “And when you feel it’s time to leave, you realize you probably waited a year too late.

“I didn’t leave Cleveland because I was mad at anybody. I love the people there and had 11 great years. I just felt like I was cheating them by the end.”

Francona is rejuvenated, though, and ready to tackle his new challenge with Ohio’s other MLB team.

“There are always the same challenges,” Francona said. “We want to see how good we can get. When we lose, it will kill me. When we win, I’ll be fine. I’ve never found a way to gain perspective. I think it’s too late for that. That’s OK. I’m healthy and I want to be able to enjoy the challenges that come our way, knowing that we don’t know what they all will be.”

Francona then smiled.

“My favorite place in the world is the ballpark,” the Cincinnati Reds manager said. “It’s good to be back at the ballpark.”