Johnny Cueto was the first major fruit of the Reds’ revitalized Latin American scouting program, signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2004. He debuted in 2008 and matured instantly, authoring a historic debut against Arizona in which he retired the first 15 batters he faced and fanned 10. He possessed a specialized, athletic repertoire that allowed him to navigate the hitters' haven of Great American Ball Park with professional poise. He reached a profound level of dominance in 2012, recording 19 wins and a 2.78 ERA to finish fourth in the Cy Young voting while leading the club to a division title.

The true magnitude of his peak was in 2014.  Cueto was a master of the "total" pitching performance, leading the National League in innings pitched (243.2), strikeouts (242), and hits allowed per nine innings (6.2). He authored a spectacular 20-win season—the first by a Red in over a quarter-century, and finished as the runner-up for the Cy Young Award. He was a model of specialized durability, proving that his game was built on a rare combination of raw stuff and high-leverage mental toughness, even when standing in the shadow of Clayton Kershaw's historic MVP summer.

His presence was defined by a unique, charismatic flair and a physical pitching style that featured multiple leg kicks and varied delivery times to disrupt a batter’s rhythm. Cueto remained the tactical anchor of the Reds' rotation through three postseason appearances, utilizing a workmanlike approach to secure 92 wins for the franchise. Whether he was carving through a lineup with a 95-mph heater or dropping a deceptive changeup on a 3-2 count, he competed with a focused intensity that made him a local favorite. He proved that a player could become a franchise pillar by mastering the psychological game of pitching as much as the physical one.

In 2015, Cueto was traded to Kansas City to help secure a world title.  With the Reds, Cueto compiled a 92-63 record with 1,115 strikeouts and a historic 3.23 ERA across 213 starts.