Reds pitching coach Derek Johnson not returning; search underway for replacement

What happened

Derek Johnson will not return as the Cincinnati Reds' pitching coach, MLB.com's Mark Sheldon reported, with the club already searching for his replacement. The announcement lands at the close of a season in which the Reds finished 75-87 — last in the NL Central, 28 games behind the division leader — and were eliminated from both the division race and the Wild Card race.

Also per Sheldon's report, outfielder Myers underwent shoulder procedures and infielder Steer underwent wrist procedures, with both players facing offseason recoveries. The nature and expected timelines of those recoveries were not detailed in the report.

Why it matters

Pitching coach searches are rarely quiet affairs, and this one arrives at a moment when the Reds have more than one roster question to answer simultaneously. The departure of Johnson means Cincinnati must rebuild its pitching infrastructure at the same time it is navigating offseason recoveries for two key players, conducting a broader talent search at multiple positions, and doing all of it from the bottom of the division standings.

A pitching coach shapes how a staff is deployed, how young arms are developed, and how a rotation is constructed around the personnel the front office assembles. Whoever steps into that role will inherit a staff whose full shape for 2025 is not yet known, and will do so without the benefit of a full spring to establish relationships before the calendar demands results.

The search, per Sheldon's report, is already underway — which is the right posture for a club that has other fires burning at the same time.

The numbers

The Reds closed the season at 75-87 (.463), sitting last in the NL Central and 28 games out of first place. Their Wild Card position ranked ninth, 13.0 games relative to the cut line. They enter the offseason on a one-game losing streak, having been eliminated from both postseason paths before the final week of play.

Those numbers frame the stakes of every decision the organization makes this winter. A 75-87 record is not a foundation that allows for quiet, incremental adjustments. It is the kind of record that demands a clear-eyed accounting of what went wrong — and a pitching staff overhaul, starting at the coaching level, is one answer the club has now made explicit.

Where the club stands

Last place in the NL Central, 28 games back, with a Wild Card deficit of 13.0 games: the Reds' 2026 season is over in every meaningful sense, and the organization is already operating in full offseason mode. The coaching staff search is the most visible piece of that work right now, but it is hardly the only one.

Just days before the Johnson announcement, Reds president Nick Krall outlined sweeping offensive deficiencies and position player needs as the club's top offseason priority, identifying major upgrades as essential after the last-place NL Central finish. That framing — a front office publicly acknowledging the scale of what needs to change — sets the context for a pitching coach search that is not merely a staff vacancy but part of a broader organizational reset.

The roster itself is also in motion. TJ Friedl elected free agency after the Reds designated him for assignment and he cleared outright waivers. Infielder Ivan Johnson was outrighted to Triple-A Louisville after clearing waivers, making him a minor league free agent this offseason. The club is, in other words, simultaneously searching for a pitching coach, addressing offensive needs, and managing a roster that is shedding pieces at multiple positions.

What does this mean for the recovering players?

The new pitching coach will not be walking into a fully healthy roster. Per Sheldon's report, Myers underwent shoulder procedures and Steer underwent wrist procedures, with both players facing offseason recoveries. Those are position players, not pitchers — but they are a reminder that the Reds' offseason calculus involves more than coaching hires.

A front office managing two position players through offseason recoveries, while simultaneously searching for a pitching coach and addressing what Krall described as major offensive deficiencies, is a front office with a full plate and a short runway before spring training arrives. The incoming pitching coach will need to get up to speed quickly on a staff whose composition is still being determined, in an organization that has signaled loudly that the status quo is not acceptable.

What we don't know yet

The Reds' search is underway, but no candidates have been named in Sheldon's report. The timeline for a hire, the pool of candidates under consideration, and the specific criteria the organization is prioritizing — experience developing young arms, a particular analytical framework, familiarity with the existing staff — are all unknown at this stage.

The recovery timelines for Myers (shoulder) and Steer (wrist) were not specified in the report, leaving open questions about their availability for the start of spring training and, by extension, how the club constructs its roster around them.

The broader offensive overhaul Krall described also remains entirely in the planning stage. The Friedl and Ivan Johnson roster moves are complete, but the additions that are supposed to address the offensive deficiencies Krall identified have not been reported.

What to watch

The pitching coach search is the most immediate item on the Reds' offseason agenda, and any reporting on candidates or a hire will carry significant weight for how the 2025 staff takes shape. Watch for names to emerge as the search progresses.

The recovery status of Myers and Steer will be worth monitoring as the offseason develops — not because the timelines are known, but because they will shape how the club approaches roster construction heading into spring.

And the broader offensive overhaul that Krall outlined remains the largest open question hanging over the organization. The Reds have identified the problem publicly. The pitching coach search is one answer. The rest of the answers are still being written.