Who is Joe Torres? What the Reds' new pitching coach brings from Cleveland

The Cincinnati Reds hired Cleveland Guardians assistant pitching coach Joe Torres as their new pitching coach Wednesday afternoon. He worked under Terry Francona in 2022 and 2023 as the Guardians' assistant pitching coach and stayed in that role after Francona retired, before Francona later took the Reds' managerial job.

In those five seasons, the Guardians produced a top-10 pitching staff with the help of pitching coach Carl Willis. In a news conference Wednesday, Torres said he mainly prioritizes throwing routines, deliveries and biomechanics. He said lowering the Reds' walk rate will be his biggest emphasis.

Torres was a first-round pick in the 2000 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Angels as a left-handed pitcher, but he never reached the majors in 13 seasons with the Angels, White Sox, Dodgers, Rockies and Rangers.

Torres has had multiple success stories as the Guardians' assistant pitching coach. Gavin Williams, for example, had a 4.86 ERA in 2024 but has been under 4.00 in two straight seasons since, with a 3.06 ERA in 2025 and a 3.76 ERA in 2026, striking out 248 batters in 184 1/3 innings. Williams also walked 22 fewer batters in 2026, which is what the Reds need.

Joey Cantillo emerged as a reliable starter in 2026, making 30 starts with a 3.62 ERA and 171 strikeouts in 159 innings.

However, Tanner Bibee has declined after posting a 2.98 ERA in his first season. He had a 4.24 ERA in 2025 and a 4.36 ERA in 2026.

Hunter Gaddis, a former starter turned reliever, was excellent in 2024, posting a 1.57 ERA and a 0.76 WHIP in 78 games. He has had an ERA under 4.00 in two straight seasons.

Torres comes to a Reds pitching staff in disarray. One of its best pitchers is injured, and its best innings eater is leaving in free agency after posting an ERA over 7.00 after the trade deadline.

Furthermore, the Reds don't have a left-handed reliever on the roster, and their best reliever and closer last season, Emilio Pagán, declined his player option to become a free agent.

Torres will be tasked with returning the Reds' pitching staff and starting rotation to a top-10 level, where it was at the height of Derek Johnson's tenure. Coaching pitchers such as Chase Burns and Andrew Abbott, and possibly Hunter Greene when he's healthy, should give him a good chance to do so.