The Cincinnati Reds entered Sunday in complete control of their own playoff destiny. With a victory in game No. 162, Cincinnati could qualify for the postseason as the National League’s third wild-card team, bouncing the New York Mets out of the picture.
Regardless of what transpires on Sunday, however, it’s worth noting that Reds manager Terry Francona has reminded the baseball world this season — his first in Cincinnati — how special he is.
While Pat Murphy of the Milwaukee Brewers has been more impressive than virtually any other manager in MLB over the past couple of seasons, Francona is right there at the top of the ladder when it comes to ranking the best active managers in the sport.
With Francona having the Reds on the verge of their first postseason berth since 2020, “Tito” is once again showing that he’s a master of maximizing rosters and pushing the right buttons to make important in-game adjustments.
Francona inherited a Reds team that was 77-85 last season, and he’s turned things around immediately in Cincinnati. He’s done so despite Elly De La Cruz having somewhat of an off year (probably due to injury).
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Francona has this Reds team playing its best baseball when it matters most, as they’ve won nine out of their last 12, putting themselves in position to do something no one expected them to do at the outset of the 2025 campaign.
Francona’s two World Series titles at the helm of the Boston Red Sox — and his three AL Manager of the Year trophies with the Cleveland Guardians — have already done much to solidify his legacy as an all-time great manager.
What we’ve learned in 2025, though, is that Francona, 66, still has his fastball.
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We’re watching one of the best to ever do it, and fans should stop for a moment and appreciate Francona this weekend.
