Reds could steal Padres pitching coach with familiar Terry Francona link

The fleet of young pitchers that have risen through the Cincinnati Reds’ farm system in recent years should have created one of the strongest pitching cores in baseball.

Hunter Greene, Andrew Abbott, Chase Burns, Rhett Lowder, and more have shown flashes of dominance, but injuries and thwarted potential contributed to a pitching staff that posted the third-worst ERA in baseball in 2026. Pitching coach Derek Johnson is out, but luckily, there’s a suitable replacement with Terry Francona ties.

Ruben Niebla is riding high as the San Diego Padres’ pitching coach as the Friars and their formidable arms are tangling with the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS. Michael King, himself a promising young pitcher who has endured ups and downs, credits Niebla with his success in 2026, which featured a no-hit bid against the Chicago Cubs during the NL Wild Card series.

Prior to serving as the Padres’ pitching coach, Niebla worked with Cleveland while Francona was manager of the club. As minor league pitching coordinator, he oversaw the development of Trevor Bauer, Triston McKenzie, and others.

Reds should aim to reunite Terry Francona with a familiar face — Padres pitching coach Ruben Niebla

The only challenge here is that Niebla seems to be under contract with San Diego through the end of 2027. The postseason ride could very well be enough to keep him with the club (although most of the starting rotation could hit free agency after this season). Niebla could also be enticed by managerial opportunities, rather than coaching, since he threw his hat in the ring for the Padres’ opening last offseason.

Another other man in the Padres’ organization, however, could fill Cincinnati’s need. Bullpen coach Ben Fritz could be in line for a promotion in the near future. San Diego’s bullpen has become a fearsome force under Fritz’s guidance. The Padres' pen shouldered more innings than every other National League team other than the Washington Nationals and still finished with the third-best ERA in the league. 

It could be time for Fritz to step into a bigger role. This is his seventh year as bullpen coach. A move to pitching coach is possibly the next logical career step. The opportunity to work with some of the most promising young arms in baseball in Cincinnati and under the eye of a future Hall of Famer in Francona could be tempting for the 41-year-old coach.

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