Cincinnati Reds to induct 4 new members into team’s Hall of Fame
It’s Reds Hall of Fame Induction Celebration Weekend at Great American Ball Park April 24-26.
On April 25, the number of Cincinnati Reds enshrined in the club’s Hall of Fame will rise to 97. Even before the celebration ends, the question many will ask is, “Who’s next?”
The Reds Hall of Fame includes 83 players, five managers, four executives and one contributor (broadcaster Marty Brennaman). Brandon Phillips, a member of the 2026 induction class, is breaking down the door for Reds of the early 21st century, and others like Joey Votto will soon follow when their eligibility arrives five years post-retirement.
The Reds’ lengthy and rich history means there are always other players and contributors to consider, both from the modern era and prior to that. It won’t be long until attention turns to electing the 2028 class of Reds hall of famers.
Here’s a look at some of the big names for fans, voters and observers to consider:
Jay Bruce, right fielder (2008-2016)
Bruce, who officially becomes eligible for induction in 2027, mashed home runs for a living, and his most prolific time doing so was with the Reds. After nine years in Cincinnati, Bruce had ascended to No. 8 on Cincinnati’s all-time home runs list with 233. That number was 23 more than Ken Griffey Jr. hit with the team, and just 11 fewer than George Foster’s 244. Bruce represented Cincinnati at three MLB All-Star Games, won two Silver Slugger awards and twice garnered top-10 consideration for the National League’s Most Valuable Player Award (No. 10 in 2011-2012).
Todd Frazier, third baseman (2001-2015)
Frazier, who also hits Reds Hall of Fame eligibility in 2027, hit 108 homers for Cincinnati and went to two All-Star Games. He finished third in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2012, but the moment Frazier is likely best known for in Cincinnati was his 2015 Home Run Derby victory, which he won at a raucous Great American Ball Park in front of his home fans. Frazier earned the Derby title in what was then a brand new, timed derby format featuring a head-to-head knockout bracket. He defeated Joc Pederson, then of the Los Angeles Dodgers, in the final round of the 2015 derby. Frazier then returned to the final round of the Derby in 2016. He finished runner-up to Giancarlo Stanton, then of the Miami Marlins.
Scott Rolen, third base (2010-2012)
Scott Rolen ended his career with three seasons in Cincinnati, and he’s already been enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. His time in Cincinnati was an award-winning stint as he was a two-time All-Star and the franchise’s first third baseman to win a Rawlings Gold Glove. Above the honors, Rolen was viewed as a leader and cultural cornerstone on the NL Central division title-winning teams of 2010 and 2012. Rolen was on the 2026 Reds Hall of Fame final ballot.
Zack Cozart, shortstop (2011-2017)
A member of Reds playoff teams in 2012-13, Cozart was an NL All-Star in 2017 and a three-time NL Gold Glove finalist. Cozart still holds the franchise’s rookie shortstop record for home runs with 15 (if you’re thinking Elly De La Cruz has the record, he hit 13 in 2023). Cozart was on the 2026 Reds Hall of Fame final ballot.
Mike Leake, starting pitcher (2010-2015)
Leake started his big-league career in Cincinnati, going 62-47 over parts of five seasons (he was traded during the 2015 season) and posting a 3.87 ERA. Leake was on the 2026 Reds Hall of Fame final ballot.
Francisco Cordero, relief pitcher (2008-2011)
Cordero is second all-time in Reds saves (150) and posted a 2.96 ERA in his Cincinnati career. Cordero was also an All-Star in 2009. He was on the 2026 Reds Hall of Fame final ballot.
Edinson Volquez, starting pitcher (2008-2011)
Over a four-year period starting in 2008, Volquez went 30-16 with the Reds, posting a 4.17 ERA in that time. He was named to the All-Star Game in 2008, a year in which he finished 17-6 with a 3.21 ERA. Volquez was on the 2026 Reds Hall of Fame final ballot.
For the Veteran’s Committee’s consideration …
These individuals aren’t eligible for the modern ballot and would therefore have to be considered by the Reds Hall of Fame Veteran’s Committee. So, while the general public and media voters can’t help get these individuals elected, here are some names we think the Veteran’s Committee could consider.
Aaron Boone, third baseman (1997-2003)
Many know Aaron Boone for one of the most famous hits in MLB history − the knockout, walk-off home run for the New York Yankees against the Boston Red Sox in Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series. But Boone’s history in Cincinnati is unmistakable. After all, he played more than half his career − seven out of 12 seasons − in Cincinnati, and he represented the club at the 2003 MLB All-Star Game in Chicago’s South Side. Boone, now the manager of the Yankees, had a career .271 batting average and was a steady contributor as the Reds transitioned out of Riverfront Stadium, known then as Cinergy Field, and into Great American Ball Park. Boone’s modern-era ballot eligibility has expired, so his Reds Hall of Fame fate is now in the hands of the Veteran’s Committee.
John Franco, relief pitcher (1984-1989)
Franco will always primarily be known for his 14 years with the New York Mets, but he was a prolific relief pitcher for Cincinnati for six seasons prior to that. He saved 148 games for Cincinnati, including an NL-best 39 saves with a 1.57 ERA over 86 innings in 1988. Franco also finished 12th in MVP balloting for that season, and represented Cincinnati in MLB’s All-Star Game three times (1986-1987, 1989).
Jeff Brantley, relief pitcher (1994-1997) and broadcaster (present)
As a player, Brantley had 44 saves in 1996 and collected 88 total saves over four seasons for the Reds − more than at any of the other stops during his on-field career. His ERA was 2.64 over his time with the Reds. Brantley could also be considered by the Board of Directors as a “contributor” for his award-winning broadcast career, which in 2026 was his 20th calling Reds games. Brantley was named the 2025 Ohio Sportscaster of the Year, and his voice has been a spirited backdrop for some of the greatest Reds moments this century.
