The Cincinnati Reds will have a new manager in 2025 after they hired Terry Francona just after the 2024 season came to an end. Some of the coaching staff from 2024 is returning, but some of the coaching staff will be made up of newcomers, and there’s even a promotion from within the organization mixed in there.
Let’s start with who is returning. Pitching coach Derek Johnson, assistant pitching coach Alon Leichman, bullpen coach Matt Tracy, bench coach Freddie Benavides, 1st base coach Collin Cowgil, 3rd base coach J.R. House, coach/advanced scouting Kyle Arnsberg, and bullpen catcher Jose Duarte are all coming back in the same roles that they have last season.
In addition to manager Terry Francona being a newcomer to the Reds organization, three others are joining Cincinnati with him. Bench coach Brad Mills, hitting coach Chris Valaika, and assistant hitting coach Will Remillard are coming aboard. Another hitting coach will also be on the staff. Alex Pelaez will be one of the two assistant hitting coaches under Valaika. He was the Triple-A Louisville hitting coach in 2024. James Keller will be the other bullpen catcher.
We already knew that Francona and Valaika were on board. Let’s start by looking at Alex Pelaez. He’s been with the Reds organization for the past 16 years and has spent time as the hitting coach at just about every level of the farm system. The last four years were spent with the Bats, so he’s familiar with just about everyone on the team.
James Keller has also been in the organization prior to this hire. Last season he served as the rehab coach for the Dominican Summer League Reds and Rojos.
Brad Mills joins the club as a bench coach. He managed the Houston Astros for three seasons from 2010-2012 and had been a minor league manager for 11 years before that. He’s spent 10 years as a bench coach with Francona in Philadelphia and Boston.
Will Remillard is coming over from the Chicago Cubs organization. After his playing days were finished following the 2018 season, he moved into the coaching role within the organization. With the Cubs from 2019-2024 he served as a development coach, assistant hitting coach in Double-A and Triple-A, the manager of hitting development, and the assistant director of hitting.
Here’s a breakdown of what the coaching staff looked like in 2024 compared to what it will look like in 2025:
| 2024 | 2025 | |
| Manager | David Bell | Terry Francona |
| Bench Coach | Freddie Benavides | Freddie Benavides |
| Bench Coach | Jeff Pickler | Brad Mills |
| Pitching Coach | Derek Johnson | Derek Johnson |
| Bullpen Coach | Matt Tracy | Matt Tracy |
| Asst. Pitching Coach | Alon Leighman | Alon Leichman |
| Hitting Coach | Joel McKeithan | Chris Valaika |
| Asst. Hitting Coach | Tim LaMonte | Alex Pelaez |
| Asst. Hitting Coach | Terry Bradshaw | Will Remillard |
| 1st Base Coach | Collin Cowgill | Collin Cowgill |
| 3rd Base Coach | J.R. House | J.R. House |
| Coach/Adv. Scouting | Kyle Arnsberg | Kyle Arnsberg |
| Bullpen Catcher | Jose Duarte | Jose Duarte |
| Bullpen Catcher | Joe Singley | James Keller |
