Sean Casey, dubbed “The Mayor of Riverfront” during his days as a standout Reds first baseman, returned to Great American Ball Park as a TV analyst. Casey made his debut Tuesday as a Reds TV analyst on Fox Sports Ohio, in the first of 15 Reds games he will do for FSO this season.

“I’m more nervous about throwing out the first pitch,” Casey said before the game.

Casey, wearing a Reds jersey with the familiar “Casey 21” on the back, threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Unlike the errant toss of actual Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory at the 2007 Reds opener, Mayor Casey fired a strike across the plate to catcher Ryan Hanigan.

The effervescent Casey never met a person he didn’t like, and he was at it again on the field before Tuesday’s game. Casey slapped palms and/or hugged everyone in range, from Joey Votto to Scott Rolen to Jonny Gomes, to WLW radio men Marty Brennaman and Bill “Seg” Dennison. Coaches, trainers, security personnel – all got the Casey treatment.

“It’s great. This is like my home,” Casey said. “I spent eight years here, and it’s so good to see so many familiar faces.”

Casey in 2007 was a runaway winner of a “Friendlist Player in Baseball” players’ poll conducted by Sports Illustrated, with 46 percent of the vote. Runner-up Jim Thome got seven percent.

Casey was with the Reds from 1998-2005 and was a three-time All-Star. Casey finished his career with Boston in 2008, with a .302 career batting average.

Casey soon moved into broadcasting, and is seen nationally as a studio analyst on the Major League Baseball network.

Casey, 36, married with four young children, lives in the Pittsburgh area. Casey agreed to do 15 Reds games this year, with a stipulation of staying relatively near home. Casey said he will do six Reds home games, and nine Reds-Pirates games in Pittsburgh.

Casey said Tuesday marked his first time in Great American Ball Park since 2008, when he appeared as a Boston player.

Casey said the broadcasting gig is a natural progression from his playing days.

“People always said, ‘Oh, you’d be great at this stuff,’” Casey said. “It’s just something I enjoy doing.”

Casey said he is unsure if he wants to make broadcasting his long-term career, with his four children (two boys, two girls) all under 10 years old.

“I’m really enjoying MLB network, they’re great people,” Casey said. “Coming back here for Cincinnati is a great fit for me, after what this organization meant to me for so many years.”

Casey said his deal with the Reds is for one year.

“Hopefully, maybe we can do it again next year,” he said.

Casey was effusive in praising the Reds, who took a 3-0 record into Tuesday.

“It’s great, man,” he said. “It’s a fun team to watch offensively, obviously. The one thing they have that they didn’t have when I was here, is the pitching. They’ve got a great defense. They’ve got all the elements you need. They’re a legit club.”