Phil Castellini was booed on Wednesday night at Xavier University.
The Cincinnati Reds’ offseason frustrations boiled over into a public setting on Wednesday night when team president and CEO Phil Castellini was loudly booed by fans inside Xavier University’s Cintas Center before a college basketball game, according to Mike Petraglia of CLNS Media.
The moment came during a ceremony announcing a new 10-year partnership between the Reds and Xavier, but instead of celebration, the event highlighted the growing disconnect between the organization and its fan base.
Xavier formally recognized the agreement, which will make the university the official academic partner of the Reds.
The deal is designed to create internship opportunities for students, expand sports management curriculum and provide continuing education benefits for Reds employees. Ownership has described the partnership as a forward-looking initiative meant to strengthen ties between the franchise and the local community.
Yet the timing of the announcement underscored the frustration surrounding the team’s offseason. The Reds are coming off a playoff appearance in 2025, a breakthrough that many believed would mark the end of their rebuild and the beginning of a new competitive era.
Instead, the winter has been defined by inactivity and missed opportunities. Fans expected aggressive moves to address roster flaws, particularly the need for a proven middle-of-the-order bat.
Cincinnati was connected to impact hitters such as designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, but no deal materialized. Schwarber opted to return to the Philadelphia Phillies on a five-year, $150 million contract.
The lack of urgency has left the roster largely unchanged. Depth signings and minor upgrades have done little to convince fans that the team is serious about contending in 2026. The boos directed at Castellini reflected that disappointment, serving as a reminder that the fan base is eager for more than symbolic gestures.
A playoff appearance should have been a springboard, a chance to build momentum while the young core of shortstop Elly De La Cruz and right-handed starter Hunter Greene remains cost-controlled.
Instead, the front office has leaned heavily on internal development, betting that young players will naturally take the next step without substantial external support. That optimism may prove costly in an NL Central division that remains competitive.
The boos at Cintas Center were not just about one night. They were a reflection of a fan base that wants action on the field, not just promises off it, and a reminder that the Reds must do more to turn potential into sustained success.