Red Sox's playoff hero doesn't rule out joining Terry Francona, Reds coaching staff

Terry Francona was installed as the Cincinnati Reds new manager shortly after the 2024 regular season came to close. Francona has yet to fill out his coaching staff, but a number of David Bell's assistants will not be back in 2025.

While Reds Director of Pitching/ Pitching Coach Derek Johnson will join Francona in the Reds dugout, three hitting coaches have already been handed their walking papers. Joel McKeithan, Terry Bradshaw, and Tim LaMonte will be looking for work elsewhere after being let go a little over a week ago.

So now the Reds have several coaching vacancies to fill. In addition to the hitting coaches, Cincinnati needs to make some decisions in when it comes to bench coach Freddie Benavides, third base coach J.R. House, and first base coach Collin Cowgill.

Red Sox's playoff hero Kevin Youklis doesn't rule out joining Terry Francona, Reds coaching staff

Cincinnati native and former Boston Red Sox All-Star Kevin Youklis could be on Francona's shortlist as the Reds new skipper looks to make some additions to his coaching staff. Youklis was in the running to join Francona as the Cleveland Guardians hitting coach prior to the 2022 season. Instead, that job went to former Reds infielder Chris Valaika.

It sounds as if Youklis would entertain a similar opportunity in the future, but it's certainly not a definite. "I don't know when, or if I'll coach," Youklis said in an interview with WLWT5. "But the one thing I've learned in life is to never say never. If a great opportunity is put upon you and it fits the lifestyle of your family, then you take it."

Later in the interview, Youklis downplayed the idea of being a hitting coach, but mentioned that the opportunity to be a bench coach would be difficult to pass up. That job, for the moment, belongs to Benavides. But after being passed over for the managerial vacancy for a second time, one has to wonder if the longtime Reds' bench coach will look for another opportunity with a different organization.

Youklis never played for the Reds, but did suit for Francona during his time in Boston. A two-time World Series champion, Youklis is probably on the Reds' list of interviewees. But given Francona's long history in the game, don't be surprised if Cincinnati's new skipper is looking for a more experienced lieutenant.

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