The Reds informed Akiyama on Sunday he won't make the Opening Day roster, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
Akiyama has a .594 OPS in 142 games since signing a three-year, $21 million contract with the Reds in January of 2020, and he didn't show enough during spring training to warrant a roster spot to begin the 2022 campaign. The 33-year-old could refuse his assignment to Triple-A Louisville -- which he did last season -- in which case Cincinnati will need to designate him for assignment by Thursday's season opener.