Torres leaves his assistant pitching coach job with the Guardians to join Terry Francona's staff in Cincinnati.
The Cincinnati Reds have their new pitching coach. The team announced Wednesday afternoon that Joe Torres will take over the role immediately, working with the staff as it prepares for the 2027 season.
Torres, 44, spent 2022 through 2026 as an assistant pitching coach with the Cleveland Guardians, a stint that reunites him with Terry Francona now that both are in Cincinnati.
Torres himself never pitched in the majors, despite a promising start to his career. A lefty, he was a first round draft pick of the then Anaheim Angels back in 2000, and Baseball America ranked him the 50th overall prospect in the game heading into 2001, as the Angels organization built toward its 2002 World Series title. Tommy John surgery wiped out his entire 2004 season, and his playing career never recovered, with him bouncing around the farm system before moving into coaching.
Now he gets a chance to shape a big league staff of his own, inheriting the Reds' pitchers as the club looks ahead to next season.