Reds should steer clear of recently released Angels' hitting coach

The Cincinnati Reds are in the market for a new hitting coach after parting ways with Alan Zinter following his three-year stint in the Queen City.

One name the Reds should steer away from is recently released Los Angeles Angels' hitting coach Jeremey Reed. Both Reed and assistant hitting coach John Mallee were relieved of their duties this past week.

While it's true that Reed has supervised two of baseball's most talented hitters (Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout), the Angels' hitters as a whole have been underwhelming since Reed's tenure began in 2019.

Reds should steer clear of recently released Angels' hitting coach.

Jeremy Reed was part of Brad Ausmus' staff when the former Detroit Tigers' skipper was hired to take over Mike Scioscia in 2019. Ausmus lasted just one season before being replaced by Joe Maddon who was fired his past season. Phil Nevin is slated to return as the Halos' manager next season, but much like David Bell and the Reds, the Angels will have a new hitting coach.

Since 2019, the Angels have ranked 22nd in runs. That's not necessarily a ringing endorsement for a coach who had both Ohtani and Trout on the roster. In 2022, the Angels' on-base percentage was the fifth worst in the league. In fact, the Reds had a higher OBP and bating average than he Halos.

The Reds' hitting was woeful in 2022 and Cincinnati should certainly be looking for a coach that can bolster the team's batting average and slugging while also help Reds hitters cut down the number of strikeouts. Jeremy Reed is not that guy. The Los Angeles Angels led all of baseball with 1,539 punch outs in 2022.

There haven't been a lot of rumblings on the search replace Alan Zinter, but perhaps the Cincinnati Reds are waiting until the postseason is over. Whoever the Redlegs choose, the new coach will have his work cut out for him.