3 Reds players who will benefit most under new manager Terry Francona

A new era in Cincinnati Reds baseball has begun. On Friday, the Reds announced the signing of legendary manager Terry Francona, who will lead the team until at least 2027 with a club option for the 2028 season as well.

Francona brings a championship pedigree, but his player-first mentality and old-school approach to baseball could pay even more dividends for a young Reds roster. While some Reds players may not thrive under the new skipper, here are three players who will most benefit from Tito’s tutelage.

New Reds manager Terry Francona could have a major impact on a select few players

Elly De La Cruz, Reds shortstop

Perhaps no player in recent Reds history has been as beloved as Elly De La Cruz. Off the field, he exudes affable charm. But on the field, he plays a style of baseball that some have derided as brash while others laud it as electric. As De La Cruz’s star grows, he will need a sure-handed manager to help him on the path from rookie sensation to respected vet.

Francona takes these kinds of personal development opportunities to heart. His background boasts a fleet of promising young players who turned into superstars under Francona’s guidance. He has shepherded everyone from No. 1 picks like Pat Burrell to underdogs like Jose Ramirez, and that level of experience could go a long way with the likes of De La Cruz.

The Reds’ shortstop is at a critical juncture in his career. As his star ascends, De La Cruz could develop into an all-eyes-on-me goofball a la Manny Ramirez, with whom Francona admittedly “butted heads.” Or De La Cruz could take after fellow Dominican icon David Ortiz, whose leadership rallied not only the Red Sox but the entire city of Boston. Francona’s influence could sway the trajectory of De La Cruz’s career.

Spencer Steer, Reds left fielder/ first baseman

One of Francona’s greatest projects was Cincinnati native Kevin Youkilis, the Greek God of Walks. The Red Sox infielder enabled Francona to use his small-ball strategy to remarkable success, and as Youkilis developed, he added more pop to propel him to three All-Star Games. The Reds player most in the mold of Youkilis is Spencer Steer, who put up a 20/20 season in 2024.

Steer may be even more Franconian than Youkilis, as he combines on-base percentage, power, and speed. In his time with Cleveland, Francona leaned heavily on base-stealing attempts, sending his runners from first base on 11.2 percent of chances.

In order for Steer to take advantage of this, though, he needs to improve his swing. In 2024, despite his success, he got bit by the “pull every pitch” bug. In 2023, when he hit to all fields more consistently, Steer logged a .271 batting average. That’s the form Steer will need to find to maximize his impact under Francona.

Luke Maile, Reds catcher

Granted, whether Luke Maile gets a chance to play under Francona is up in the air as the Reds need to pick up a club-option for 2025. As a backup catcher, though, Maile provides solid veteran leadership and enough productivity to warrant the exercise of that option. If he does stick around in Cincinnati, he could be the latest in a line of Francona proteges.

Maile expressed some interest in managing after his playing career ends, and the 33-year-old could learn from few better than Francona. The Francona player to big league manager path is well paved. Six of the 28 other current Major League managers played for Francona. If the new skipper’s time in Cincinnati only runs the course of the next three years, Maile could become the heir to the throne.

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