THE APEX TIMES
Cincinnati brings in Joe Torres, a former Guardians assistant pitching coach, to lead a staff that posted a 4.83 ERA in 2026 while ranking in the league’s top areas for walks and hit-by-pitches.
The Cincinnati Reds hired Joe Torres as their new pitching coach, turning to a coach with recent experience in Cleveland’s staff development. The move, announced by MLB on Wednesday, answers the Reds’ question of who would take over the organization’s top pitching role.
Torres, 44, spent the previous five seasons as an assistant pitching coach with the Cleveland Guardians, including the 2022-23 period when Terry Francona was managing the Reds. Cleveland’s pitchers ranked eighth in MLB in ERA last season at 3.77, and the Guardians have finished in the top 10 in ERA in each of the past five seasons.
Cincinnati’s decision comes after a 2026 pitching performance that slipped relative to recent seasons. The Reds were ranked 28th in MLB with a 4.83 ERA, led the league in walks with 668, and were fourth in hit-by-pitches with 87.
Torres replaces Derek Johnson, who was informed last month that he would not be retained after a personal leave of absence that ran from June through the rest of the season. Assistant pitching coach Matt Tracy filled in during Johnson’s absence, and both Tracy and bullpen coach Oscar Marin are expected to remain in their current roles.
The coaching change also adds urgency to Cincinnati’s offseason pitching plans. MLB’s report notes the starting rotation is led by All-Star Chase Burns and includes Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, Rhett Lowder and Brandon Williamson, with the staff likely needing at least one additional starter. The bullpen could face further shifts after free-agent departures, and the organization still has to decide what pitching responsibilities will look like across its system now that Torres has been hired.