Bronson Arroyo, Danny Graves to pair as Findlay Market Opening Day grand marshals

CINCINNATI (WXIX) - The 2023 Findlay Market Opening Day Parade will feature a pair of former Cincinnati Reds pitchers as grand marshals: Bronson Arroyo and Danny Graves.

Graves played in Cincinnati for eight years from 1997-2005 and is the all-time saves leader for the Reds.

Aroyo, who attended the announcement Wednesday, played in Cincinnati for nine seasons, was an All-Star in 2006 and now lives in the Queen City.

“I’ve won a World Series in Boston and played in Cincinnati, and this opening day is as exciting as anything in the game,” Arroyo said at Findlay Market on Wednesday. “This is a great way to kick off a season.”

Arroyo will be inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in July 2023.

“It’s great to find a place that feels like home after the game of baseball,” he said.

The parade will feature 156 units including floats, bands, local celebrities and more. That’s down from years past. “We stress quality over quantity,” said parade spokesperson Jim Scott.

A Bengals kickers and punters float will feature Shane Graham, Doug Pelfrey and Jim Breech.

A Bengals Super Bowl alumni float will feature Ken Anderson, Dave Lapham, Louis Breeden, Tom Dinke, James Brooks, David Fulcher, Joe Kelly and Kevin Walker.

A Cincinnati Reds alumni float will include George Foster, Doug Flynn, Ron Oester and Scott Williams.

“To have these names come out for a parade just shows how big it is and how much people love it, “ Scott said.

Cincinnati Reds Opening Day this year is Thursday, March 30. The Reds will face the Pirates at 4:10 p.m. at Great American Ball Park.

The Reds are in a rebuilding phase with a good deal of young talent expected to make opening-day roster, but it could be another tough year for Cincinnati fans coming off an historically bad season.

“All of this negativity about the Reds needs to go away,” Scott said. “We need to get behind these young guys and help ‘em prove people wrong.”

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