Reds' broadcaster Tommy Thrall 'cautiously optimistic' for season ahead

Cincinnati Reds Broadcaster Joe Nuxhall's signature line was "Rounding third and heading for home."

Broadcaster Marty Brennaman's was "And this one belongs to the Reds."

So does Tommy Thrall, who on Thursday is beginning his fifth season as the voice of the Cincinnati Reds alongside Jeff Brantley, have a signature line?

Maybe, he said. Thrall has found himself more frequently at the beginning of the games saying, "Let's play." It's not something he plans, Thrall told The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast this week. It just happens.

Here's what Thrall, 39, of Columbia Tusculum, had to say:

On his dream job

Thrall knew at age 10, living in Kansas City, that broadcasting was the job for him. It combined baseball and his love of radio. He was also intrigued because the broadcasters could travel the country.

"Still, even to this day, it's wild to think that it's a reality. It's not just being a big league announcer, which has been my dream since I was a little kid. It's incredible to be a part of what has been an unbelievable broadcasting legacy here."

On Brantley

Thrall and Branley aren't just co-workers, they're friends. They go to dinner. Alfio's in Hyde Park is a Thrall favorite along with the Jeff Ruby's properties. They both like to go shopping.

"(Brantley) is unbelievable to work with. The personality is one thing; the knowledge of the game is another. The way we just kind of mesh, we have a lot of similar interests. I always tell people that. We're friends away from the ball park as well, which helps a ton."

On the team's season

Thrall is fresh off calling spring training games so he's had a chance to get to know the relatively young team. So how will the team do this year?

"It's a hard question to answer because there are so many unknowns with this team," Thrall said. "I think the fact that I have really quite literally no idea what to expect of this team is part of what makes it so exciting and so fun. They've got three really, really good starting pitchers. And if Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo and Graham Ashcraft can stay healthy, well, teams have their hands full three out of five nights when they play the Reds. And that's not to take anything away from the other two starters."

"It's worth being cautiously optimistic," Thrall added.

Listen to Tommy Thrall's full conversation with "That's So Cincinnati" for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Media and other podcast platforms.