The Reds announced today that Chris Valaika has been hired as their director of hitting and major league hitting coach. Previously, he served as the Guardians’ hitting coach but is now making the switch to join the Reds across Ohio.
Valaika, 39, was initially drafted by the Reds in the third round in 2006. He played in the major leagues from 2010 to 2014 with the Reds, Marlins, and Cubs before transitioning to a coaching career. He began working in the Cubs’ minor league system and eventually earned a spot on their major league coaching staff. Valaika was then hired by the Guardians before the 2022 season, where he worked under former manager Terry Francona.
After stepping down in 2023 to focus on his health, Francona is set to return to managing, with reports indicating he will take over as the Reds’ manager starting in 2025, replacing David Bell.
Shortly after the news of Francona’s hiring, the Reds announced they were parting ways with hitting coach Joel McKeithan and assistant hitting coaches Terry Bradshaw and Tim LaMonte. One of these positions has now been filled with Valaika, a familiar figure for Francona.
In 2022, the Guardians posted a .254/.316/.383 slash line, achieving a league-average wRC+ of 100 and boasting the lowest strikeout rate in the majors at 18.2%. In 2023, their performance dipped slightly to .250/.313/.381 with a 91 wRC+, though they still led in strikeout efficiency. By 2024, they reduced strikeouts less dramatically but added power, ending with a .238/.307/.395 line and a league-average wRC+ as they advanced to the ALCS.
It’s often challenging to assess a coach’s direct impact on team performance, but Francona and Valaika appear to have built a strong working relationship, which likely influenced Francona’s decision to bring Valaika to Cincinnati.
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