CINCINNATI — The Reds will have a new pitching coach in 2027.
President of baseball operations Nick Krall announced Thursday that Derek Johnson, who has been away from the team since taking a personal leave of absence in June, will not return next season. Cincinnati will begin its search for a replacement immediately.
Johnson had been with the organization since 2019, when he joined David Bell’s staff as pitching coach. He later added the title of director of pitching following the 2021 season.
His departure comes after a difficult year for Cincinnati’s pitching staff. The Reds finished 28th in Major League Baseball with a 4.83 team ERA, one year after posting a 3.86 mark. Injuries played a major role, most notably with Hunter Greene, who made only five starts before undergoing another elbow surgery, while Nick Lodolo once again dealt with blister issues.
There were bright spots, particularly Chase Burns, who emerged as the clear success story of the rotation. Burns went 15-3 with a 2.86 ERA and 185 strikeouts in 154? innings, establishing himself as one of the best young pitchers in baseball.
But the staff as a whole struggled. Andrew Abbott and Brady Singer both regressed, while Cincinnati was forced to lean on less-established starters throughout the season as injuries piled up.
Johnson’s departure marks the first significant coaching change of the Reds’ offseason. Terry Francona is expected to return in 2027, as are Krall and general manager Brad Meador, but Cincinnati will now have a new voice overseeing a pitching staff that remains central to the organization’s plans.
Whoever takes over will inherit a rotation built around Burns, Greene, Lodolo, and Abbott, with Singer headed for free agency though the Reds could bring him back.
After a season in which pitching depth was tested repeatedly, finding the right person to lead that group will be one of Cincinnati’s first major offseason decisions.
