The Reds announced today the coaching staff that will be working under new manager Terry Francona. One new hire that was not previously reported is Brad Mills in the bench coach position. Freddie Benavides, who got Cincinnati’s bench coach gig going into 2019, is listed today as bench coach/field coordinator.
Mills, 68 in January, is a familiar face for Cincinnati’s new skipper. Francona managed in Philadelphia from 1997 to 2000, in Boston from 2004 to 2011 and then Cleveland from 2013 to 2023. Mills was first base coach for the Phillies during those years and bench coach for the Red Sox during most of Francona’s time there. Mills left to manage the Astros from 2010 to 2012, but then reunited with Francona in Cleveland in 2013.
He started his Cleveland tenure as third base coach but moved to bench coach in 2014. He stayed in that role through 2019 but then sat out the 2020 season, which was played in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports that Mills actually stepped away from the game due to the tragic drowning of his 18-month-old grandson. For the 2021 season, Mills was reassigned to some unspecified non-coaching role with Cleveland, so this will be his first stint in the dugout in many years.
Francona himself was away from baseball in 2024 as he focused on his health. He will return in 2025 by taking over the managerial job for the Reds and has filled in the staff with some old friends. Chris Valaika had been the hitting coach in Cleveland from 2022 to 2024 but was whisked away to Cincinnati last month. Now Mills will be brought in to return to Francona’s side, with Benavides also sticking around, though perhaps in an altered role.
Good hire they have a proven track record together
The – Yep, Tito & Millsy are like PB&J.
I guess this blocks Tek from joining in.
I don’t blame him getting guys he knows and who have been successful with him in the past. I expected it even. It will be interesting to see the rest of the staff.
We’re getting the band back together….
Proper thing. Good luck Tito & Millsy!
I fully expected this. I also expect John Farrell to be named either assistant pitching coach or bullpen coach, who is already in the Reds front office.
83-79
Probably but it’s good enough to get the last Wild Card spot.
Maybe, but 79-83 is more likely.
Wonder how much a bench coach makes $ ?
Probably $300-500K
Thats a high end range though. Only a few bench coaches clearing close to 500K though. Mills might be in the $200k range.
DeMarlo Hale hiring imminent?
I have nothing but good will for Francona and Mills. Cincinnati is a storied Baseball city and deserves a competitive and exciting team. I hope this goes well for the Reds, except if/when they face my Red Sox.
See ya in the World Series then !
Surprising to me that JR House remains the 3rd base coach. Perhaps he had his eyes examines and got spectacles-thick spectacles.
JR is a very good catching coach. Maybe that’s his bigger value. With an addition here or there I don’t think Cincinnati was that far off.