Reds hired former Cleveland Guardians’ hitting coach Chris Valaika as their hitting coach and director of hitting.
Valaika served as Cleveland’s hitting coach this season, leading them to finishes of 5th in strikeout rate, 12th in home runs, 14th in runs, and 17th in OPS. Despite putting together a solid season, Valaika, who was a former Reds player, will be moving to Cincinnati to join his former boss, Terry Francona, who was hired as the Reds’ manager this offseason. Valaika will also now serve as the director of hitting, which will give him a bit more authority or decision-making power.