The Cincinnati Reds have added a familiar big-league voice to their coaching staff, hiring Anthony Iapoce as their new assistant hitting coach, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer.
Iapoce arrives after the Reds said last month that Will Remilliard would not be retained, leaving a spot open on the staff. He brings plenty of major league experience with him, having worked as a hitting coach for the Texas Rangers from 2016 to 2018 and for the Cubs from 2019 to 2021. For the past two seasons, he has been the Houston Astros assistant hitting coach.
Before his coaching career took off, Iapoce was a player in the Brewers system. Milwaukee drafted him in the 33rd round of the 1994 MLB draft out of Lamar University. He never made it to the majors, but he did spend nine seasons in the minor leagues, where he hit .271/.345/.332 with six home runs and 160 stolen bases.
The hire comes at a time when Cincinnati’s offense badly needs a reset. The Reds finished the 2026 season last in Major League Baseball in batting average at .229 and on-base percentage at .305.
They also ranked 27th in runs scored with 666 and struck out 1,544 times, the second-most in baseball. Even with 213 home runs, the lineup still had trouble turning power into runs.
“Last year, we came and we added more power," Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall told MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. "At the end of the day, we were second in home runs [in the NL with 213] and last [in the NL] in runs scored.
We need to get on base more, no question. First and foremost, we need to make better contact and get on base more.
That’s the most important thing we can do.”
A new hitting coach can help set a different tone, but the Reds know that won’t be enough on its own. They still need more production from the outfield and more offense at second and third base, two areas that were well below average last season.
It’s a big offseason in Cincinnati, and the clock is already ticking.
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