Chris Valaika was hired by Cleveland as the Cincinnati Reds' hitting coach

The Cincinnati Reds have hired Chris Valaika from the Cleveland Guardians as their new Director of Hitting and Major League Hitting Coach. This is the first coaching hire since Terry Francona was hired to lead the team after a year-long retirement.

Valaika, the former Reds infielder who played four seasons in the majors, spent the last three seasons as the Guardians' hitting coach, including two years under Francona.

The Reds' third-round draft pick in 2006 replaces Joel McKeithan as hitting coach. All three members of the major league hitting coaching staff were fired after the season, along with infield coach Jeff Pickler.

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Some of the other coaches from this season's team are expected to return, but the team has not announced those decisions yet, with the exception of returning pitching coach Derek Johnson.

Valaika, 39, spent four seasons as a minor league coach and coordinator before joining the Chicago Cubs' big league roster as an assistant hitting coach in 2021 before his stint in Cleveland.

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