'It's a big deal': Storied Reds locker gets its newest occupant in Trevino

This story was excerpted from Mark Sheldon’s Reds Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CINCINNATI -- Reds catcher Jose Trevino knew he was given a special locker ahead of Opening Day, but he didn't know quite how special.

Trevino's belongings are housed in one of the two spots at the far end of the home clubhouse closest to the tunnel leading towards the dugout and field.

Among the most notable past tenants of Trevino's locker are Joey Votto and Hall of Famer Scott Rolen. The original tenant when Great American Ball Park opened in 2003 was another Hall of Famer, Barry Larkin.

"All I know is it used to be Joey’s locker," said Trevino, who was acquired from the Yankees in December for reliever Fernando Cruz.

Trevino was told who else the locker belonged to and it brought both a smile and some surprise.

Others who have occupied the space include Rich Aurilia, Jeff Conine and most recently, Luke Maile. Sense a trend? The locker usually goes to a veteran who is known for either his leadership or having a certain presence.

“I’ll take it," Trevino said.

It's actually one of the few "double lockers" with extra space for stuff, and Trevino was already filling both sides and organizing it. It's also in a location that if someone is addressing teammates during a meeting, it likely happens from there.

“When I first got here, everybody was like, ‘You’ve got the locker.’ I thought, ‘Sweet.’ Then I started asking around and learned it was Joey’s locker for some time," Trevino said. "Then it was, ‘Is there anything I need to know about this locker?’ If Joey has any advice on the locker, help me out a little bit."

A few members of the club, including senior director of clubhouse operations Rick Stowe, liked the idea of Trevino at a prestige locker despite his being new to the team. The 32-year-old's signing of a two-year, $11.5 million contract extension through 2027 on March 20 clinched it.

“It’s a big deal," Trevino said. "I don’t know the reason why they put me here, but I’m honored more than anything. For guys previously at this locker, it’s a big deal.”

Trevino didn't believe the Yankees had a similar locker hierarchy in their home clubhouse. Although he happened to take over a locker there that had been previously used by a popular veteran.

“I was in Nick Swisher’s locker, because there was a bunch of pennies somewhere in there," Trevino said. "They said, ‘It was Swish’s locker before.’ I don’t know [why]. I actually sent him a picture of the pennies and he’s like, ‘Oh, let’s go. You’ve got the good locker.’”

Trevino was brought in to be Cincinnati's second catcher behind Tyler Stephenson, but he became the regular when Stephenson opened the season on the injured list.

Stephenson is the longest-tenured Reds player after debuting in 2020. A few feet away, is his own double locker. The original owner of that spot? Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. Others who have used it include Ramon Hernandez and Tucker Barnhart.

Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo knew Trevino had Votto's old locker, but he never fully put together that that part of the clubhouse was viewed as more special.

"He definitely carries that kind of veteran presence," Lodolo said of Trevino. "If that’s what that locker represents and everything, I don’t think he’s a bad fit for it at all. I think he exemplifies what that locker is probably for.”

Inside the expansive Reds home clubhouse, the lockers are arranged almost like neighborhoods. Pitchers mostly occupy the first section when walking in, with relievers all stationed on the left side and starters on the right side.

In the back section are most of the position players, with Trevino and Stephenson at the end before the hallway.

“If there was a perfect locker for me, it’s in between the pitchers and the position players," Trevino said. "We’re like in the middle [as catchers]. But I will take whatever locker they give me.”