On Tuesday, Cincinnati Reds prospect Tyler Callihan received a call that he’ll never forget — he was headed to the big leagues. After being drafted by the Reds in 2019, Callihan finally made his long awaited major league debut during Game 1 of Wednesday’s doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals.

As is customary for most players upon their entrance to the majors, Callihan received a brand new jersey number after being assigned the less-desirable No. 85 during spring training earlier this year. Callihan donned No. 32 for his first major league game, a number last worn by reliever Justin Wilson in 2024.

But most Reds fans associate No. 32 with one of two players. While Mr. Perfect Tom Browning holds a special place in the hearts of Reds Country, there may not have been a bigger moment for the franchise over the last 25 years than Jay Bruce’s home run in the ninth inning of the division-clinching game against the Houston Astros on September 28, 2010.

Tyler Callihan is carrying the number formerly worn by Reds All-Star outfielder Jay Bruce

It seems like one of the most overused moments in Reds history, but with so few achievements to pull from over the last few decades, The Clinchmas Story always stands out as one of the best.

With the NL Central championship within their grasp, Cincinnati headed into the bottom of the ninth inning in a 2-2 tie with Houston and Bruce was due up first. It didn’t take the Reds outfielder long to see his pitch, as he rocketed the first offering from Astros’ reliever Tim Brydak to straight away center field and off the batters eye.

Reds fans will remember, Bruce pointing his finger into the air the moment the ball left his bat. He knew it was gone — long gone. The Reds’ slugger couldn’t round the bases fast enough, and once he arrived at home plate, was mobbed by his teammates. The Reds won by the final of 3-2 and Great American Ball Park was the site of a celebration the city of Cincinnati hadn’t seen in 25 years.

It’s a bit unfair to expect that level of excitement from Callihan, but the Reds rookie does have some big shoes to fill. He’s a left-handed hitter who plays the outfield while wearing No. 32, but that’s about where the comparisons stop. Bruce was the 12th overall pick in the 2005 MLB Draft and regarded as one of the top prospects in baseball before his big league debut.

Callihan is a bat-first utility player whose ceiling isn’t nearly as high. But fans might start having some flashbacks if he takes up residence in right field during the Reds current homestand.

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4 unexpected Reds who are suddenly crashing the 2025 All-Star conversation

The 2025 MLB All-Star Game is still months away, but several Cincinnati Reds players are making the case to be part of the festivities at Truist Park in Atlanta later this summer. While fan voting plays a major role in which players get selected, performance can outbid popularity on occasion.

Obviously Elly De La Cruz and Hunter Greene — two of the most recognizable players on the Reds roster — will be in the mix to represent Cincinnati in this year’s Midsummer Classic. But a handful of other Reds players will be looking to join the discussion as well.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at four Reds players whose early-season success could vault them into the MLB All-Star conversation.

4 unexpected Reds who are suddenly crashing the 2025 All-Star conversation

Noelvi Marte, Reds third baseman

No Reds player has enjoyed a more surprising start to the 2025 season than Noelvi Marte. Figuratively left for dead after a forgettable season in 2024 and a dreadful showing during spring training, Marte has reemerged this season as one of the most impactful bats in the Reds lineup. If the Reds third baseman can continue his hot-hitting into the summer, he could be a sleeper candidate to be an All-Star this season.

Graham Ashcraft, Reds pitcher

Graham Ashcraft’s transition to the bullpen has been seamless. After three flawless innings on Thursday, Ashcraft owns a 0.57 ERA with 17 punch outs in 15 ⅔ innings of work. The one thing holding Ashcraft back from entering the All-Star conversation is his role in the bullpen. When it comes to the selection process, the honor typically goes to a team’s closer. But if Ashcraft continues to dominate the opposition as he has at the outset, the right-hander may eventually force his way into that role.

Gavin Lux, Reds infielder/ outfielder

Gavin Lux is swinging a hot bat at the moment. While there are concerns over whether or not that’s sustainable, you can’t question the fact that Lux’s .317 batting average is top-10 in the National League. Lux would need to ride that Luis Arráez-type wave in order to be considered for the Midsummer Classic. The San Diego Padres’ standout has been to the All-Star Game three times thanks to sky-high batting average and incredible bat-to-ball skills. Arráez, much like Lux, doesn’t hit for much power, giving the Reds’ utility player a path to the All-Star Game for the first time in his career.