The Cincinnati Reds have spent years building up a wave of young arms, but the payoff never quite matched the promise. Hunter Greene, Andrew Abbott, Chase Burns, Rhett Lowder, and others have all flashed big-time stuff, yet injuries and stalled development helped drag the staff to the third-worst ERA in baseball in 2026. With Derek Johnson out as pitching coach, the Reds may have a chance to reset - and Terry Francona’s past could point them toward a familiar fit.
One name that stands out is Ruben Niebla, the San Diego Padres’ pitching coach. He’s in the middle of a strong run with San Diego as the Padres and their arms battle the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS. Michael King has credited Niebla with helping him put together his 2026 season, which included a no-hit bid against the Chicago Cubs in the NL Wild Card series.
Niebla also has a clear Francona connection. Before joining the Padres, he worked in Cleveland while Francona managed the club, serving as minor league pitching coordinator and helping develop pitchers such as Trevor Bauer and Triston McKenzie.
There is a catch, though: Niebla appears to be under contract with San Diego through the end of 2027. And with the Padres still in the postseason, keeping him in place would not be a surprise, especially with most of their starting rotation able to hit free agency after this season. He could also draw interest for managerial jobs; he put his name in the mix for the Padres’ opening last offseason.
If Niebla proves too difficult to pry away, another Padres staffer could make sense for Cincinnati. Bullpen coach Ben Fritz is a possible candidate for a promotion, and his unit has been one of the best in the National League. San Diego’s bullpen logged more innings than every NL team except the Washington Nationals, yet still finished with the league’s third-best ERA.
Fritz is in his seventh year as bullpen coach, so a move up to pitching coach would fit the usual career path. For the Reds, the appeal is obvious: a chance to work with a young pitching group that still has real upside, and to do it under Francona’s watch.
In Other News...
Reds May Be Adding Another Catcher To A Growing Roster Debate
The Reds are already weighing a familiar question behind the plate, and now there is another name to track in the pipeline. A Baseball America scouting report by Ben Badler links Venezuelan catcher Dylan Rodriguez to Cincinnati as a potential signing in the 2027 international signing period, adding a promising young backstop to a system that has made catching a clear area of focus.
Rodriguez is viewed as a prospect with strong offensive upside and defense that is still coming along, the kind of profile that can make a club pause and project. For Cincinnati, it only adds another layer to an existing roster debate, with Alfredo Duno sitting atop the catching prospect board while the big league picture continues to require decisions of its own. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Face A Real Emilio Pagan Decision After His Huge Finish
Emilio Pagns late-season run has given the Reds something they did not have to think much about earlier in the year: a real long-term decision on a bullpen arm who has suddenly made himself expensive. With a player option for 2027 worth $10 million, Pagn now has to weigh the comfort of a guaranteed payday against the possibility that his recent finish and the state of the market could open the door to something bigger.
For Cincinnati, the calculus goes beyond one season and one contract number. Pagns age, the demand for relief pitching and the uncertainty around the next collective bargaining agreement all make this a complicated call, and the Reds will have to be prepared for either path. If he takes the option, he stays. If he declines, the club could be staring at a free-agent market where a strong finish has changed his value in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Prospect Carter Graham Leaves Fans Waiting After Scary AFL Exit
Carter Grahams Arizona Fall League stint ended on a worrying note after the Reds prospect went after a home run at the wall and came up hurt, leaving Cincinnati fans to wonder what it might mean for one of the organizations more encouraging young names. Graham had earned attention with a strong season split between High-A Dayton and Double-A Chattanooga, and the AFL was a chance to keep building momentum against some of the games better prospects.
For a system that continues to watch its rankings shift, there was also a separate reminder of how quickly things can change. Shortstop Steele Hall recently fell out of MLB Pipelines Top 100, underscoring the volatility that comes with prospect lists and the broader pressure on the Reds upper-minors talent to keep progressing. Grahams situation now adds a more immediate layer of concern, and Cincinnati will be waiting for word on how serious it is. [Read more 🡒]