The Cincinnati Reds found themselves in a tough spot after the Speedway Classic was halted on Saturday night at the Bristol Motor Speedway due to heavy rain. The game was paused in the bottom of the first inning, and with Chase Burns having thrown just one inning—making him likely unavailable for Sunday’s restart—Cincinnati needed to make adjustments.
In a decision that’s likely to frustrate many Reds fans, Cincinnati called up Lyon Richardson and sent Will Benson down to Triple-A. Richardson was added as the extra player for Sunday’s game, as teams are allowed 27 players for the Speedway Classic. It’s expected that he’ll return to the minors once the game concludes.
This is not the news that Reds fans wanted to hear. Though it’s certainly understandable that Cincinnati needed an extra arm for what’s likely to be a bullpen game on Sunday, losing Benson takes away one of the Reds’ most impactful bats.
Reds demote Will Benson after Speedway Classic weather delay
Will Benson’s two-run homer on Friday afternoon gave the Reds a crucial three-run lead over the Atlanta Braves, helping secure a 3-2 victory. The outfielder stepped in for TJ Friedl in center field during his paternity leave and made several impressive defensive plays throughout the week.
Many Reds fans were hopeful that Benson’s strong showing with both the bat and glove would earn him a spot on the roster after the trade deadline. However, the Reds’ front office, along with manager Terry Francona, opted to keep backup infielder Santiago Espinal on the active roster instead.
Moving Will Benson down is absolutely diabolical https://t.co/nnTCNnlCw5
— Jules ◡̈ (@notsocooljules) August 3, 2025
It’s very possible that Benson will make his way back to the majors at some point this season. For now, though, the Reds fanbase isn’t exactly showing much patience. Just take a look at the comments on the Reds’ social media post on X if you want to see how the fans are reacting. It’s safe to say they’re not thrilled with the decision.
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