The 2023 Cincinnati Reds season was the 154th season for the franchise in Major League Baseball, and their 21st at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. The Reds drew an average home attendance of 25,164 in 81 home games in the 2023 MLB season, the 18th highest in the league. The total attendance was 2,038,310.
With a win over the Cleveland Guardians on August 16, the Reds improved on their 62–100 record from the 2022 season.
From June 10 to June 23, the Reds had a 12 game winning streak, their third best in franchise history, and second best of the season, only behind the Tampa Bay Rays 13 game winning streak.
Despite the winning streak during the season, the Reds were eliminated from post season contention after a September 30 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Off-season
Rule changes Pursuant to the CBA, new rule changes are in place for the 2023 season:
institution of a pitch clock between pitches; limits on pickoff attempts per plate appearance; limits on defensive shifts requiring two infielders to be on either side of second and be within the boundary of the infield; and larger bases (increased to 18-inch squares);
Transactions October 2022 Activated RHP Justin Dunn from the 15-day IL. Activated LHP Mike Minor from the 15-day IL. Activated CF TJ Friedl from the 10-day IL. Recalled RHPs Kyle Dowdy, Daniel Duarte, Raynel Espinal, Ryan Hendrix, Dauri Moreta and Jared Solomon from Louisville Bats. Recalled Cs Mark Kolozsvary and Michael Papierski from Louisville Bats. Recalled OF Allan Cerda from Chattanooga Lookouts. Sent RHP Robert Dugger outright to Louisville Bats. Sent RHPs Raynel Espinal and Ryan Hendrix outright to Louisville Bats. Sent C Chuckie Robinson outright to Louisville Bats. Baltimore Orioles claimed Cs Aramis Garcia and Mark Kolozsvary off waivers. Detroit Tigers claimed C Michael Papierski off waivers. Source
November 2022 RHPs Chase Anderson and Hunter Strickland, LHP Justin Wilson, C Austin Romine and 2B Donovan Solano elected free agency.Activated RHPs Tejay Antone, Vladimir Gutierrez, Jeff Hoffman, Tony Santillan, Lucas Sims and Art Warren, 1B Joey Votto, OF Nick Senzel, 3B Mike Moustakas and C Tyler Stephenson from the 60-day IL. LHP Mike Minor elected free agency.Signed free agent RHP Kevin Herget to a minor league contract. Acquired 2B Nick Solak from the Texas Rangers for cash.Selected the contracts of RHPs Ricky Karcher and Levi Stoudt and LHP Brandon Williamson from Louisville Bats. Selected contract of SS Elly De La Cruz from Chattanooga Lookouts. Selected contracts of RHP Lyon Richardson and Noelvi Marte from Dayton Dragons. Designated RHPs Kyle Dowdy, Jeff Hoffman, Derek Law, Jared Solomon and Art Warren and RF Aristides Aquino for assignment.Acquired RHP Casey Legumina from the Minnesota Twins for 2B Kyle Farmer. Acquired SS Kevin Newman from the Pittsburgh Pirates for RHP Dauri Moreta. RHPs Kyle Dowdy, Daniel Duarte, Jeff Hoffman, Derek Law, Jared Solomon and Art Warren, OF Allan Cerda and RF Aristides Aquino elected free agency. Invited non-roster RHP Ben Lively to spring training.Signed free agent RHP Nick Howard to a minor league contract.Signed free agent RHP Daniel Duarte and OF Allan Cerda to a minor league contract and invited them to spring training.Signed free agent C Luke Maile to a 1-year, $1.175 contract. Source
December 2022 Signed free agent Cs Jhonny Pereda and Chuckie Robinson and RHP Jared Solomon to a minor league contract and invited them to spring training. Claimed C Blake Sabol off waivers from the Indianapolis Indians. Signed free agent RHP Silvino Bracho to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. Traded C Blake Sabol to the San Francisco Giants. Acquired RHP Jake Wong from the San Francisco Giants. Signed free agent 1B Wil Myers to a 1-year, $7.5 million contract and C Curt Casali to a 1-year, $3.25 million contract. Designated 3B Mike Moustakas for assignment. Source
January 2023 Signed free agent RHP Alan Busenitz to a minor league contract. Signed free agent RHP Zack Brown to a minor league contract. Activated 3B Matt Reynolds. Released 3B Mike Moustakas. Signed free agent RHP Tayron Guerrero to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. Activated RHP Justin Dunn, SS Spencer Steer and OF Michael Siani. Signed free agent RF Henry Ramos to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. Signed free agent RHP Luke Weaver to a 1-year, $2 million contract. Designated 3B Matt Reynolds for assignment. Signed free agent RHP's Enmanuel Talavera, Andre Vazquez, Sergio Villa, Rafael Leon and Irvin Gonzalez, LHP Bryan Diaz, C Alfredo Duno, 2B Anielson Buten, SS's Rafhlmil Torres, Alfredo Alcantara, Brauli Diaz and Brayan Joseph and OF's Yeycol Soriano and Angel De La Cruz to a minor league contract. Signed free agent LHP Alex Young and SS Richie Martin to a minor league contract and invited them to spring training. Invited non-roster 3B Christian Encarnacion-Strand, 1B Alex McGarry, SS Matt McLain, RHP Connor Phillips and LHP Andrew Abbott to spring training. Sent 3B Matt Reynolds to the Louisville Bats. Invited non-roster 3B Matt Reynolds to spring training. Signed free agent RHP Derek Law to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. Source
February 2023 Signed free agent 3B Jason Vosler and LF Chad Pinder to a minor league contract and invited them to spring training. Signed free agent RHP John Murphy, CF Nick Plummer and LF Nick Martini to a minor league contract. Acquired RF Will Benson and cash from the Cleveland Guardians for OF Justin Boyd and Steve Hajjar. Designated 2B Alejo Lopez for assignment. Signed free agent RHP's Tommy Eveld and Wilmer Rios to a minor league contract. Signed free agent OF Pedro Alfonseca to a minor league contract. Sent 2B Alejo Lopez outright to Louisville Bats. Signed free agent LHP Daniel Norris to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. Signed free agent RHP Angel Zazueta to a minor league contract. Signed free agent LHP Christian Lopez to a minor league contract. Signed free agent RHP Hunter Strickland to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. Signed free agent RHP Chase Anderson to a minor league contract. Signed free agent IF Yael Romero to a minor league contract. Claimed LHP Bennett Sousa off waivers from Chicago White Sox. Assigned RHP's Pedro Garcia, Ryan Nutof and Randy Wynne, 2B's Ivan Johnson and Alejo Lopez, C James Free and CF T.J. Hopkins to the Cincinnati Reds. Assigned RHP's Manuel Cachutt and Brooks Crawford, C Daniel Vellojin and SS Steven Leyton to the Cincinnati Reds. Assigned RHP Spencer Stockton and LHP Connor Curlis to the Cincinnati Reds. Assigned LHP Evan Kravetz to the Cincinnati Reds. Source
March 2023 Assigned LF Nick Martini, OF Jay Allen II, SS Quincey McAfee and C Eric Yang to the Cincinnati Reds. Assigned RHP Mac Sceroler and Donovan Benoit, C Hayden Jones, 2B's Brian Rey and Tyler Callihan, 3B's Nick Quintana, Nicholas Northcut and Michel Triana, SS Edwin Arroyo and OF Austin Hendrick to the Cincinnati Reds. Assigned RHP's Michael Byrne and Hunter Strickland to the Cincinnati Reds. Assigned RHP Chase Anderson to the Cincinnati Reds. Signed free agent Andy Yerzy to a minor league contract. Assigned SS's Leonardo Balcazar and Ilvin Fernandez to the Cincinnati Reds. Assigned C Michael Trautwein and SS Francisco Urbaez to the Cincinnati Reds. Optioned RHP Levi Stoudt and 2B Nick Solak to the Louisville Bats. Optioned RHP Lyon Richardson to the Chattanooga Lookouts. Optioned OF Michael Siani to the Louisville Bats. Optioned SS Noelvi Marte to the Chattanooga Lookouts. Assigned SS Carlos Jorge and OF's Blake Dunn and Jack Rogers to the Cincinnati Reds. Assigned OF Justice Thompson to the Cincinnati Reds. Optioned RHP's Ricky Karcher and Casey Legumina and SS Elly De La Cruz to the Louisville Bats. Assigned 3B Austin Callahan and CF Ashton Creel to the Cincinnati Reds. Assigned C Cade Hunter to the Cincinnati Reds. Optioned OF Stuart Fairchild to the Louisville Bats. Assigned OF Rece Hinds to the Cincinnati Reds. Optioned LHP Brandon Williamson to the Louisville Bats. Assigned SS Jose Serrano to the Cincinnati Reds. Assigned LHP Andy Fisher to the Cincinnati Reds. Traded LHP Steve Hajjar to the Cleveland Guardians. Optioned LHP Bennett Sousa to the Louisville Bats. Signed free agent RHP Hunter Strickland. Released SS Richie Martin. Source
Regular season Game log Legend Reds Win Reds Loss Game postponed Eliminated from playoff race
|- style="background:#fbb;" | 1 || March 30 || Pirates || 4–5 || Zastryzny (1–0) || Farmer (0–1) || Bednar (1) || 44,063 || 0–1 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 2 || April 1 || Pirates || 6–2 || Lodolo (1–0) || Hill (0–1) || — || 22,224 || 1–1 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 3 || April 2 || Pirates || 3–1 || Ashcraft (1–0) || Velasquez (0–1) || Díaz (1) || 14,421 || 2–1 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 4 || April 3 || Cubs || 7–6 || Cruz (1–0) || Smyly (0–1) || Law (1) || 11,941 || 3–1 || W3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 5 || April 4 || Cubs || 5–12 || Alzolay (1–0) || Farmer (0–2) || — || 13,399 || 3–2 || L1 |- style="background:#bbb;" | – || April 5 || Cubs || colspan=8| Postponed (rain); Makeup: September 1 as a split doubleheader |- style="background:#bbb;" | – || April 6 || @ Phillies || colspan=7 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: April 7 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 6 || April 7 || @ Phillies || 2–5 || Soto (1–1) || Law (0–1) || Kimbrel (1) || 44,365 || 3–3 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 7 || April 8 || @ Phillies || 2–3 || Vasquez (1–0) || Díaz (0–1) || — || 44,526 || 3–4 || L3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 8 || April 9 || @ Phillies || 6–4 || Herget (1–0) || Domínguez (0–1) || Gibaut (1) || 39,129 || 4–4 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 9 || April 10 || @ Braves || 4–5 || Lee (1–0) || Law (0–2) || — || 30,237 || 4–5 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 10 || April 11 || @ Braves || 6–7 || Tonkin (1–1) || Cessa (0–1) || Anderson (1) || 33,559 || 4–6 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 11 || April 12 || @ Braves || 4–5 || Yates (1–0) || Farmer (0–3) || Minter (2) || 30,648 || 4–7 || L3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 12 || April 13 || Phillies || 6–2 || Lodolo (2–0) || Falter (0–2) || Díaz (2) || 12,170 || 5–7 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 13 || April 14 || Phillies || 3–8 || Walker (1–1) || Overton (0–1) || — || 17,610 || 5–8 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 14 || April 15 || Phillies || 13–0 || Ashcraft (2–0) || Strahm (1–1) || — || 25,860 || 6–8 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 15 || April 16 || Phillies || 3–14 || Nola (1–2) || Cessa (0–2) || — || 13,115 || 6–9 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 16 || April 17 || Rays || 8–1 || Gibaut (1–0) || Beeks (0–1) || — || 7,375 || 7–9 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 17 || April 18 || Rays || 0–10 || Bradley (2–0) || Lodolo (2–1) || — || 11,304 || 7–10 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 18 || April 19 || Rays || 0–8 || Rasmussen (3–1) || Stoudt (0–1) || — || 10,205 || 7–11 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 19 || April 20 || @ Pirates || 3–4 || Contreras (2–1) || Weaver (0–1) || Bednar (6) || 14,051 || 7–12 || L3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 20 || April 21 || @ Pirates || 2–4 || Keller (2–0) || Law (0–3) || Bednar (7) || 17,276 || 7–13 || L4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 21 || April 22 || @ Pirates || 1–2 || Hill (2–2) || Cessa (0–3) || Underwood Jr. (2) || 12,575 || 7–14 || L5 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 22 || April 23 || @ Pirates || 0–2 || Velasquez (3–2) || Greene (0–1) || Bednar (8) || 11,372 || 7–15 || L6 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 23 || April 24 || Rangers || 7–6 || Díaz (1–1) || Leclerc (0–1) || — || 8,810 || 8–15 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 24 || April 25 || Rangers || 7–6 || Sanmartin (1–0) || Kennedy (0–1) || Díaz (3) || 9,969 || 9–15 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 25 || April 26 || Rangers || 5–3 || Sims (1–0) || Hernández (0–1) || — || 10,256 || 10–15 || W3