The former Cincinnati Reds pitcher is swapping the mound for a microphone this Saturday, when Bronson Arroyo brings his band to Wilmington’s Murphy Theatre. The show will blend Arroyo’s original songwriting with a long list of classic rock favorites, giving local fans a chance to see the Reds legend in a very different kind of home-field setting.
The Murphy Theatre says doors open at 5:30 p.m., with the concert scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. Adult tickets cost $20, while children ages 17 and under can get in for $5, and kids wearing youth baseball gear or Reds apparel will receive a free small popcorn.
According to the Wilmington News Journal, Arroyo will open with a solo acoustic set featuring original songs before joining his full band for the second half. The group is expected to cover rock anthems from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, and concertgoers will also have access to a meet-and-greet session.
A 16-Year Baseball Career, Then A Second Act
Arroyo made his major-league debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2000 and later helped the Boston Red Sox win the 2004 World Series. He spent most of his career with Cincinnati, pitching for the Reds from 2006 through 2013 before returning to finish his playing career in 2017.
MLB’s player profile notes that Arroyo finished his Reds career among the franchise’s leaders in starts, strikeouts, wins and innings pitched. He was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 2023, adding an official baseball stamp to a career that had already included plenty of guitar work.
Arroyo’s music career began while he was still playing professionally, including a public rock debut at Boston’s Hot Stove-Cool Music fundraiser in 2004. The Murphy Theatre says his band later released the album Covering the Bases and has performed at festivals, theaters and arenas around the country since Arroyo retired from baseball.
Hot Dogs, Meet-And-Greet And A Reds-Themed Raffle
The night will also include baseball-themed extras beyond the stage. The News Journal reports that Charlie’s Concessions will offer hot dogs, drink specials and Cracker Jack, while fans can enter a raffle for an autographed, watercolored poster commemorating Arroyo’s Reds Hall of Fame induction.
Tickets are available through the theater’s website, at the Murphy Theatre box office or by phone. For a former pitcher known for working deep into games, Arroyo’s Wilmington set promises a similarly full evening — only this time, the changeup is likely to be a guitar solo.
