Reds Caravan expands to five states, four legs

CINCINNATI -- Not only will the 2014 edition of the Reds Caravan be bigger, it will be broader in the ground it covers.

Instead of dispersing on three separate legs, the Reds will have four. Instead of four states traversed, there will be five. And with 17 featured stops, the mileage will cross 3,000 miles for the first time in recent memory -- including visits in Nashville, Tenn., and Evansville, Ind.

Presented by the Cincinnati USA Regional Tourism Network, this winter caravan will begin Jan. 23 from the Reds Hall of Fame and continue through Jan. 26, with all four legs making their final stop at Great American Ball Park inside the FOX Sports Ohio champions club for the annual season ticket select-a-seat event.

All fan stops are free and open to the public. At most visits, fans will have opportunities to interact with current and former players, broadcasters and front office staff. Time is usually set aside for question-and-answer sessions, the chance to pose for pictures and sign autographs. At each fan stop except the select-a-seat event, the Reds will raffle two tickets to the 2014 Opening Day game on Monday, March 31 against the Cardinals.

Here is the breakdown of the different Reds Caravan legs:

The North tour will travel through the Ohio cities of Columbus, Lima, Dayton and Hamilton. Featured will be outfielder Billy Hamilton, Reds Hall of Famer Tom Browning, broadcasters Jim Kelch and Jeff Brantley, Minor League outfielder Jesse Winker and vice president of baseball operations Dick Williams.

For the South tour, which will travel through Louisville, Bowling Green and Lexington in Kentucky and Nashville, the headliners are general manager Walt Jocketty, starting pitcher Mat Latos (Thursday only), reliever Sam LeCure (Friday through Sunday), catcher Corky Miller, Minor League outfielder Ryan LaMarre and chief operating officer Phil Castellini.

The East tour will hit Athens, Ohio, along with Charleston and Parkersburg, W.Va., and Ashland, Ky. Featured are new manager Bryan Price, starting pitcher Homer Bailey (Friday through Sunday only), reliever Logan Ondrusek (Thursday only), broadcasters Jeff Piecoro and Chris Welsh, Minor Leaguer Seth Mejias-Brean and player development director Jeff Graupe.

For the West tour, the group will visit the Indiana cities of Muncie, Evansville, Bloomington and Indianapolis. Featured are broadcaster Marty Brennaman, new catcher Brayan Pena, former player Doug Flynn, Minor League catcher Tucker Barnhart and assistant GM Bob Miller.

All four caravan legs will also visit over 20 of the Reds on Radio affiliates during the trip.

For the full itinerary, go to the 2014 Reds Winter Caravan page on reds.com/caravan.