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Bronson Arroyo instructs at Reds’ Legends Clinic

Former Cincinnati pitcher featured on second day of 25th annual event

Photo by Ron Johnston Bronson Arroyo, adjusting a foot, works with a camper as the featured instructor at the final day of the 25th annual Reds’ Legends Clinic. This was the first appearance at the event for the 41-year old Arroyo, who spent 9 years with the Reds.

VIENNA — Bronson Arroyo was not aware that he was in Nick Swisher “country.”

The former MLB pitcher was the featured instructor at the 25th annual Cincinnati Reds Legends Clinic Tuesday at the Vienna Rec Fields in Jackson Memorial Park. And, not too far away is Parkersburg High School and City Park, where Swisher, an ex-MLB player as well, played his prep baseball back in the late 1990s.

“I run into Nick every now and then at events,” said the 41-year-old Arroyo. “I actually saw him at Disney World. His wife (JoAnna Garcia Swisher) was Cinderella there for a while.

“They were taking the private tour, and I was doing the same thing with some of my friends. Nick’s a great guy.”

A few years ago when the event was held at the VFW Field in Marietta, Swisher’s father Steve Swisher was a Reds’ Legends camp instructor for director Mike Wagner.

Arroyo — who goes back and forth from Cincinnati and his hometown in Florida — was making his first appearance at the Legends camp and in the Mid-Ohio Valley. A year ago, at about this time, the 6-foor-3 right-hander was on the Cincinnati Reds roster before retiring.

Arroyo pitched 16 seasons in the majors with four different ballclubs (9 years with the Reds) and compiled a solid 148-137 record with a 4.28 ERA. In 2004, he played on the World Series champion Boston Red Sox.

“I can’t believe my dad (Mike Wagner) was able to get Bronson Arroyo to come here after a year of retiring,” said 28-year-old Daniel Wagner, a former Warren baseball standout (28-4 on the hill). “He was my favorite pitcher, growing up.

“When he came over (to the Reds) from Boston, he was kind of my pitcher with the curveball, and the change-up. I’d always thrown a curveball over top. I threw it three-quarter, and with the angles, you just kept the hitters off balance. And, I think that was the biggest thing for me, growing up as a pitcher. You want to keep the hitter guessing. If he sees me over top, he’s not going to see me coming from the three-quarter angle.”

Wagner paused.

“I looked up to Bronson…if he can do that, why can’t I do that,” he said, grinning.

A very talented individual, Arroyo is also a musician who has recorded a rock-n-roll CD.

“He’s coming in for the camp, and then he also wants to do a concert,” Wagner said. “Dad was surprised, because he’d never done anything like that. But his band is in, and I guess that’s what he does now.”

Actually, Arroyo is doing more than just making music.

“I’ve been snow skiing, hanging out with friends at charity events and playing golf, “ he said.

Arroyo smiled.

“I’ve been cleaning shoes with club house kid,” he added. “I’ve been doing a little bit of everything. I don’t want to be chained to any one thing.”

So how did Arroyo fare when he pitched to Swisher?

“I’ve faced Nick quite a few times when he was with the Yankees and the Indians,” Arroyo said. “I think he had maybe 10 at-bats against me.”

Arroyo got the best of Swisher 8 of 11 bats, including 2 strikeouts.

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