Reds Hire Joe Torres as Pitching Coach
Cincinnati names the former Guardians assistant to rebuild a pitching staff that struggled in 2026.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Baseball
The Cincinnati Reds hired Joe Torres as their pitching coach on Wednesday, replacing Derek Johnson. Torres, 44, spent five seasons as the Cleveland Guardians' assistant pitching coach.
Why it matters
The Reds' pitching staff ranked 28th in MLB with a 4.83 ERA in 2026 and led the league in walks, prompting a coaching change. The move signals an effort to reverse a staff that regressed after a stronger 2025.
Cincinnati's pitching staff posted a 4.83 ERA in 2026, ranking 28th in MLB and up from 3.86 in 2025. The staff also led the majors with 668 walks and allowed 87 hit-by-pitches, fourth-most in the league.
The players
Joe Torres
Torres, 44, is a former first-round draft pick who pitched professionally for 13 seasons and later spent five years as an assistant pitching coach with the Cleveland Guardians.
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball franchise based in Cincinnati, Ohio, and one of the oldest professional baseball clubs in the United States.
Derek Johnson
Derek Johnson served as the Reds' pitching coach before being informed he would not be retained after a personal leave of absence.
The details
Torres was a first-round pick of the Angels in the 2000 MLB Draft and pitched professionally for 13 seasons without reaching the majors. Derek Johnson was informed last month that he would not be retained, after taking a personal leave of absence beginning in June; Matt Tracy filled in during that leave.
Timeline
2000: Joe Torres selected in the first round of the MLB Draft by the Angels.
2017: Torres began his coaching career with the Cleveland Guardians organization.
June 2026: Derek Johnson began a personal leave of absence.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026: The Reds hired Joe Torres as pitching coach.
Season Trajectory
The Reds' pitching staff fell from a 3.86 ERA in 2025 to 4.83 in 2026, a swing that placed the staff 28th in MLB. The hire of Torres, a Guardians assistant who helped develop pitching in Cleveland, positions Cincinnati to rebuild the unit ahead of 2027.
Reds pitching-staff production is likely to shift with Torres's arrival, which matters for fantasy rosters that rely on Cincinnati arms. The club is expected to add at least one starter in the offseason, a move that could alter rotation roles.
The takeaway
A coaching change can signal a team's priorities, and the Reds' focus on walks and run prevention will be worth tracking as the 2027 roster takes shape.
Further reading
Follow more Cincinnati Baseball coverage for context on the Reds' pitching trajectory.
