On MLB Opening Day 2025, Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona shared that he has been making a conscious effort in his later years to fully appreciate and enjoy the experience. This year, however, it posed a challenge as he had an unexpected trip to the dentist on Thursday morning.
Francona kicked off his first Opening Day in Cincinnati with an impromptu visit to a cosmetic dentist, a detail he disclosed during his pregame press conference at Great American Ball Park on Thursday.
During the press conference starting at 11:30 a.m., when asked about his morning so far, Francona humorously replied, “Not the best.” He recounted waking up at 2 a.m. realizing he had chewed out one of his veneers, prompting him to seek help from the trainer by 6 a.m. By 8 a.m., the issue was resolved, and he quipped, “Now I’m ready to go. I didn’t want to go through Opening Day looking like Jethro Bodine from the Clampetts.”
In good spirits, Francona joked about his dental mishap, drawing laughter from the gathered reporters. Although he chose not to reveal which tooth had caused the trouble, he maintained a light-hearted demeanor throughout.
Despite the rocky start to his day, Francona found humor in the situation and remained optimistic that things could only improve from there, whether the game ended in victory or defeat.
