The Reds announced this afternoon that they’ve given pitching coach Derek Johnson the additional title of director of pitching. He’ll remain the big league pitching coach as well as assuming this additional responsibility, which the team announced as “the development and communication of pitching philosophy/initiatives throughout the entire organization.” Previous director of pitching Kyle Boddy left the Reds last month.
Along with the new title, Johnson earned a contract extension, general manager Nick Krall told reporters (including Mark Sheldon of MLB.com). Johnson had already been under contract through the end of next season, but he’s now slated to be in Cincinnati beyond 2022. Krall didn’t specify the new contract length.
“We moved some things forward over the last couple of years. But at the end of the day, I felt D.J. was the best person to be in this role because I feel he’s one of the best pitching minds in baseball, if not the best,” Krall said (via Sheldon). “I think that from being able to drive the content and the curriculum from the Major League staff, and then working down through, was the best way to approach it. I thought he would be the best person to set it up to have success in the Minor Leagues as well.”
Johnson has served as Cincinnati’s pitching coach for the past three years, making the jump from the division-rival Brewers during the 2018-19 offseason. The Reds have done fairly well in that department during Johnson’s tenure, posting a 4.24 ERA that ranks twelfth leaguewide in spite of one of the league’s most hitter-friendly home ballparks. Cincinnati ranked 20th in ERA with a 4.41 mark this past season, although they finished middle-of-the-pack in SIERA (4.17) and strikeout/walk rate differential (14.6 percentage points).
Of course, Krall and his staff are making the decision to keep Johnson around (with more responsibility) based on far more than bottom-line results. Reds’ brass is obviously happy with Johnson’s communication skills in working with pitchers, and his new role should give him more of an impact on the club’s minor league pipeline. That could be particularly useful as a couple of the team’s top young arms approach big league readiness. Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo are each fairly recent top ten draftees and highly-regarded prospects. Both pitchers reached Triple-A Louisville at the end of this past season and could be in the majors relatively early in 2022.
Derek Johnson informs the Mets he takes himself out of consideration for POBO
Very good pitching coach IMO, definitely well-deserved.
Been a major part of developing Luis Castillo and some of their younger arms. Helped revive Sonny Gray’s career after Larry Rothschild messed him up.
And yes, Derek Johnson also informed the Mets that he was taking himself out of consideration for the POBO job before accepting this extension.
You realize that after the 5 starters there are 7-8 relievers that can’t get anyone out right? A good pitching coach doesn’t just develop starters.
Great job keeping him with Reds as they extended him.
Dudes a joke. Worst bullpen in baseball 2 years in a row. Unless our starters are going to pitch 8-9 innings a game, you have to have a good bullpen. Our bullpen sucks. Sims and maybe Lorenzen on a good day. Garret and the rest suck ass
I’d focus some more time on that atrocious bullpen. A lot of it is the talent he was given (especially to start last season), but man that group screwed the team. Cost them at least 10-15 wins in the first half of the season.
Always a good idea to extend your Johnson
That’s one perspective. On the other hand the Reds sp generated 14.3 WAR; more than any of the other 29 ML teams rotations. Reds 5 sp made just at $25MM in 2021 combined, The Dodgers, whose sp(s) generated 12.8 WAR for the position (2nd to Reds) had 4 starters who each made a lot more than the Reds rotation combined. Bauer ($40MM), Scherzer ($34.5MM), Price ($32MM), & Kershaw ($31MM). That’s well north of $10MM per WAR generated by that group. Maybe DJ earned the promotion & extension.
Your logic is there but part of the dodgers MO was the older vet starters but most of the Reds rotation is still ARB or is on a cheaper “show me” deal from prior years because they weren’t all that good. But nevertheless, Johnson has done a helluva job
To be fair, they didn’t surround him with much. Look at the names from last year’s pen.
I was surprised he left the Brewers 3 years ago. Young staff on the rise, in the playoffs, low pressure. He’s from Illinois, not Ohio, so no home connection.
Lol
He didn’t leave Milwaukee…
He was under contract with the Brewers and he left to take a job with the Reds. How did he not leave Milwaukee??
“….I feel he’s one of the best pitching minds in baseball, if not the best,” Krall said (via Sheldon)
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Could be. If not the top MLB pitching coach, he has to be in the top 5 – I’d put him up there with the Astros 2 Pitching Coaches (Strom, Miller), the Giants Andrew Bailey that did a remarkable job this year, and the Rays Kyle Snyder. Pitchers throughout MLB respect Mr. Johnson.
Made his name at Vanderbilt, and then excelled with the Brewers. Has helped the Reds tremendously. Their Pitchers are throwing in what might be the worst Pitchers park in MLB.
Agree with the comments about the bullpen. The Reds need to do a better job of bringing him candidates that he can work with. It’s a lot easier to develop bullpen guys, as they can succeed with 2 pitches……sometimes even one if they can get it to move differently.
The name Derek Johnson just seems to me to have a adult film star vibe to it…
So he has the worst bullpen in the MLB 2 years in a row and everyone is saying it’s a good deal?!? He and Bell and the front office need to hit the bricks.
Dude probably drove Kyle Buddy out the door thinking he can do a better job.