Cincinnati Reds Hire Chris Valaika as New Hitting Coach Under Terry Francona | Chatterbox Reds
Nick Kirby and Craig Sandlin provide INSTANT REACTION to the Cincinnati Reds hiring Chris Valaika as their new hitting coach.
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Cincinnati Reds tap Cleveland Guardians’ Chris Valaika as new hitting coach under Francona
Gordon Wittenmyer
Cincinnati Enquirer
The Cincinnati Reds have hired Chris Valaika away from the Cleveland Guardians as their new director of hitting and major league hitting coach, the first coaching hire since Terry Francona was hired out of a one-year retirement to manage the team.
Valaika, the former Reds infielder who played four seasons in the majors, has spent the past three seasons as the Guardians hitting coach, including two of those years under Francona.
Chris Valaika, the former Reds infielder, has been hired from Cleveland as the Reds’ next hitting coach.
The Reds’ third-round draft pick in 2006 replaces Joel McKeithan as hitting coach. All three members of the team’s big-league hitting coach staff were fired after the season, along with infield coach Jeff Pickler.
Some of the other coaches from this season’s staff are expected back, but the team has not announced those decisions yet, with the exception of returning pitching coach Derek Johnson.
BRONX, NY – JULY 13: Chris Valaika of the Cincinnati Reds and playing for the United States Olympic Team looks on before playing against the World Futures Team during the 2008 XM All-Star Futures Game at Yankee Stadium on July13, 2008 in the Bronx borough of New York City.
Valaika, 39, spent four seasons as a minor-league coach and coordinator before joining the Chicago Cubs’ big-league staff as an assistant hitting coach in 2021 ahead of his stretch in Cleveland.
Chris Valaika Leaving Guardians for the Reds
Interesting development for a polarizing figure
By Quincy Wheeler Oct 24, 2024
Chris Valaika has been hired away by the Cincinnati Reds as their new hitting coach.
Terry Francona must have enjoyed his time with Valaika, who now rejoins Tito just a few hours south on I-71.
Hitting coaches are rarely beloved, because hitting in baseball is very hard. For example, Kevin Seitzer was hitting coach for the Braves’ offense in 2023 which was one the best we’ve seen in a long time. After a disappointing 2024 where his best hitter was out all season, he’s out of a job. I’m not sure that any hitting coach is beloved for long, but it’s certainly true that Valaika had his detractors in droves among Guardians’ fans. I prefer to see a good four-five year sample from a guy, but it’s notable that this wasn’t a decision by Cleveland to move on, but from Valaika.
Now, we will wait to see if the organization hires from within – perhaps promoting assistant hitting coach Dan Puente, run production coordinator Jason Esposito, Alex Eckelman vice president of hitting, or Junior Betances, hitting coach for Columbus, who has long been rumored as a bit of a batter whisperer – or finding an outside fit, like Seitzer or any number of others connected to Cleveland or manager Stephen Vogt in some manner.
The Guardians’ hitting needs to chase less and take more walks, so, whoever they find, I hope they are adept at helping the team continue the slugging gains they made in 2024 and adding that piece to the equation.
2 comments
If you can't beat them, hire them.
Craig/Nick: Catch the Luke Weaver interview on Sports Spectrum broadcast yesterday; He goes into detail about his troubles with the Reds last year and his journey; Very Good. Glad Luke found a home with the Yanks. Inspiring.