The Cincinnati Reds will have a new manager in 2025, after hiring Terry Francona shortly after the 2024 season ended. Some of the coaching staff from 2024 will return, but some will be newcomers, with one internal promotion thrown in for good measure.
Let’s start with who’s returning. Pitching coach Derek Johnson, assistant pitching coach Alon Leichman, bullpen coach Matt Tracy, bench coach Freddie Benavides, first base coach Collin Cowgil, third base coach J.R. House, coach/advanced scouting Kyle Arnsberg, and bullpen catcher Jose Duarte will all return in the same roles as last season.
In addition to manager Terry Francona, three more newcomers will join the Reds organization. Bench coach Brad Mills, hitting coach Chris Valaika, and assistant hitting coach Will Remillard will join the staff. Another hitting coach will join the staff. Alex Pelaez will be one of two assistant hitting coaches under Valaika. In 2024, he served as the hitting coach for Triple-A Louisville. James Keller will be the other bullpen catcher.
We already knew Francona and Valaika were on board. Let’s begin by looking at Alex Pelaez. He’s worked with the Reds for 16 years and has served as the hitting coach at nearly every level of the farm system. He’s been with the Bats for the past four years and knows almost everyone on the squad.
Prior to this hire, James Keller had been with the organization. Last season, he was the Dominican Summer League Reds and Rojos’ rehabilitation coach.
Brad Mills has joined the club as a bench coach. He managed the Houston Astros for three seasons from 2010 to 2012 after previously serving as a minor league manager for 11 years. He spent ten years as Francona’s bench coach in Philadelphia and Boston.
Will Remillard is coming from the Chicago Cubs organization. After his playing career ended after the 2018 season, he transitioned into a coaching role within the organization. He worked for the Cubs from 2019 to 2024 as a development coach, assistant hitting coach in Double-A and Triple-A, manager of hitting development, and assistant director of hitting.
Here’s a breakdown of how the coaching staff looked in 2024 against what it will look like in 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 |
