Reds Director of Pitching reveals philosophy that could change how the team attacks hitters in 2026.
The Cincinnati Reds were a competitive team in the National League Central in 2025, finishing the season with an 83-79 record and earning a Wild Card berth before falling to the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
A big reason for that success was the pitching staff, and the man behind it has a clear plan for how to handle one of baseball's most well-known hitter-friendly ballparks.
Derek Johnson's Simple but Effective Strategy#
Reds Director of Pitching Derek Johnson has spent years building a pitching development system in Cincinnati, and his philosophy for handling Great American Ballpark is pretty clear.
"I want to make hitters miss the ball because of the size of the ballpark," Johnson said.
The quote cuts right to the point.
Great American Ballpark has long been known as one of the best parks in baseball for home runs, with short fences and dimensions that favor hitters.
But Johnson is not trying to fight the ballpark by turning his pitchers into groundball machines.
Instead, he wants them to generate strikeouts so hitters never get a chance to take advantage of those short porches.
A Park That Can Work Both Ways#
For years, Great American Ballpark has been called a launching pad for hitters.
The park has consistently ranked among the top venues for home runs, with left-handed hitters seeing a big boost in Cincinnati.
But under Johnson's leadership, the Reds have started to flip the script.
The 2025 season showed what the Reds staff can do when things come together.
Cincinnati posted a 3.86 ERA, which ranked 12th in the National League, and the team finished seventh in WHIP at 1.22.
Those numbers are solid for any team, but they look even better when you consider where the Reds play half of their games.
Young Arms Ready to Take the Next Step#
The Reds have built a rotation full of young pitchers with bright futures, and Johnson has been at the center of their development.
Hunter Greene went 7-4 with a 2.76 ERA over 19 starts in 2025, continuing his rise as one of the game's most exciting young arms.
Nick Lodolo, Andrew Abbott, Rhett Lowder, and rookie Chase Burns all figure to be part of the rotation mix heading into 2026.
Johnson's approach gives these pitchers a clear path to success, even in a park that has given many arms trouble over the years.
If you can get hitters to swing and miss, it does not matter how short the fences are.
As the Reds prepare for 2026 under manager Terry Francona, the pitching staff looks ready to take another step forward.