Reds Hire Joe Torres as New Pitching Coach

The Cincinnati Reds have hired Joe Torres as their new pitching coach.

Torres joins the Reds after spending the past five seasons with the Cleveland Guardians as their assistant pitching coach.

Reds manager Terry Francona previously had Torres on his Guardians coaching staff in 2022 and 2023.

Before joining the major league staff, Torres spent five seasons coaching in Cleveland’s minor league system.

Torres is 44 years old.

He was selected 10th overall in the 2000 amateur draft by the Los Angeles Angels.

During his playing career, Torres also spent time with the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers and Colorado Rockies.

He retired as a player in 2013.

Torres inherits a Reds pitching staff that includes Chase Burns.

Burns finished fourth in the National League with 15 wins last season.

He also ranked ninth in the league with 185 strikeouts.

Despite Burns’ individual success, the Reds’ overall pitching performance was among the worst in baseball.

The Reds had the third-highest ERA in the majors at 4.83.

Their starting rotation posted a 4.97 ERA.

Cincinnati finished last in the NL Central with a 75-87 record in 2026.

That came one year after the Reds made the postseason in 2025.

The hire reunites Torres with Francona, who managed Torres on the Guardians’ coaching staff.

Francona and Torres worked together in Cleveland during the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

Torres’ background includes extensive experience developing pitchers at multiple levels.

He spent five seasons in Cleveland’s minor league system before being promoted to the major league staff.

That minor league work gave him hands-on experience with young arms coming through the system.

As assistant pitching coach for the Guardians, Torres worked alongside pitching coach Carl Willis.

Cleveland’s pitching staff during Torres’ tenure was consistently among the best in the American League.

The Guardians ranked in the top half of the league in ERA in each of the last three seasons.

Torres now faces a different challenge in Cincinnati.

The Reds’ 4.83 team ERA was worse than every team except two in the majors.

Only the Colorado Rockies and Miami Marlins had higher ERAs.

Cincinnati’s starting rotation was a particular weakness.

The starters’ 4.97 ERA ranked 28th in the majors.

Only the Rockies and Marlins had worse starting rotations by that measure.

The Reds’ bullpen was more respectable but still below average.

Cincinnati’s relievers posted a 4.57 ERA, which ranked 22nd in baseball.

Torres will need to find ways to improve performance across the entire staff.

Chase Burns is the clear ace of the rotation.

Burns went 15-8 with a 3.41 ERA in 32 starts last season.

His 185 strikeouts in 194 innings showed his ability to miss bats.

But the rest of the rotation was inconsistent.

Hunter Greene, when healthy, showed flashes of dominance but struggled with command.

Nick Lodolo dealt with injuries and posted a 4.89 ERA in 22 starts.

Andrew Abbott had a 5.12 ERA in 28 starts.

Brandon Williamson spent most of the season on the injured list.

The Reds also have young arms like Rhett Lowder and Connor Phillips in the pipeline.

Lowder, a first-round pick in 2023, reached Triple-A last season.

Phillips, acquired in a trade with the Miami Marlins, showed promise but struggled with control.

Torres’ experience in Cleveland’s system should help him relate to developing pitchers.

The Guardians have a reputation for getting the most out of their pitching prospects.

Cleveland’s minor league system consistently produces arms that contribute at the major league level.

Torres was part of that development machine for a decade.

His playing career also gives him credibility with veteran pitchers.

Torres was a first-round pick who pitched in the majors for parts of seven seasons.

He appeared in 141 games, all in relief, with a 5.04 ERA.

Injuries limited his effectiveness, but he gained experience across five organizations.

That journey from top prospect to journeyman gives him perspective on the ups and downs of the game.

The hiring was announced by the Reds on November 4, 2026.

Torres replaces former pitching coach Derek Johnson, who was let go after the season.

Johnson spent four seasons as the Reds’ pitching coach.

Under Johnson, the Reds made the playoffs in 2025 but regressed sharply in 2026.

The team’s ERA rose from 3.89 in 2025 to 4.83 in 2026.

That one-year jump of nearly a full run was a major factor in the team’s last-place finish.

Francona, who took over as Reds manager before the 2025 season, clearly wanted a coach he trusted.

Torres and Francona have a working relationship that goes back to their time together in Cleveland.

Francona managed the Guardians from 2013 through 2023, winning two American League pennants.

He stepped down after the 2023 season due to health concerns but returned to manage the Reds.

Francona’s track record with pitching staffs is strong.

In Cleveland, he oversaw the development of Cy Young winners Corey Kluber and Shane Bieber.

The Guardians’ pitching staff was consistently among the best in the league under Francona.

Torres was part of that success as an assistant coach.

Now he gets a chance to run his own staff.

The Reds are betting that Torres can replicate some of Cleveland’s pitching success in Cincinnati.

The team has resources to work with.

Chase Burns is a legitimate frontline starter under team control for several more seasons.

Hunter Greene has elite stuff but needs to stay healthy and find consistency.

Nick Lodolo has shown he can be effective when healthy.

The bullpen has some young arms with high ceilings.

Alexis Díaz, the team’s closer, saved 32 games with a 3.12 ERA.

Ian Gibaut and Buck Farmer provided reliable innings in setup roles.

But the depth is thin.

The Reds will need Torres to help develop internal options and get the most out of the pitchers on the roster.

Free agency and trades could also reshape the staff before spring training.

The Reds have payroll flexibility after a disappointing season.

General Manager Nick Krall has said the team will be aggressive in addressing pitching needs this offseason.

Adding a proven starter through trade or free agency could take pressure off the young rotation.

Torres will have input on which pitchers the team targets.

His familiarity with the Guardians’ system could also open trade possibilities.

Cleveland has a surplus of young pitching and could be willing to deal from depth.

The Reds and Guardians have made trades before.

In 2023, Cincinnati acquired Will Benson from Cleveland in a minor deal.

Benson became a productive outfielder for the Reds.

A similar deal for a young pitcher could make sense this winter.

For now, the focus is on Torres and what he brings to the organization.

The Reds introduced him at a press conference on November 5.

Torres spoke about his philosophy of pitching development.

He emphasized building relationships with pitchers and understanding their individual strengths.

He also stressed the importance of using data and technology to inform decisions.

The Reds have invested heavily in analytics and technology in recent years.

Torres said he plans to work closely with the team’s analytics department to tailor plans for each pitcher.

He acknowledged the challenge of turning around a staff that struggled badly in 2026.

But he expressed confidence in the talent on the roster.

Torres specifically mentioned Chase Burns as a pitcher he is excited to work with.

He also said he looks forward to collaborating with Francona again.

The two have a strong professional relationship built on mutual respect.

Francona praised Torres’ work ethic and baseball intelligence in a statement.

“Joe knows pitching, and he knows how to connect with pitchers,” Francona said.