The Cincinnati Reds have cut ties with longtime pitching coach Derek Johnson, who left the team in June for personal reasons and didn’t return this season.
The team did not reveal details of the cause for the leave or the reason for cutting ties now.
The Reds announced the decision through a written statement from team president Nick Krall:
“Derek Johnson took a personal leave of absence in June of this year and will not be returning. We wish Derek and his family the best. A search for a new pitching coach will begin immediately.”
Johnson, 55, was in his eighth season with the Reds since being hired after three seasons as Milwaukee Brewers pitching coach.
He was named Baseball America’s 2019 Major League Coach of the Year.
The Reds pitching staff
struggled all season this year, the starting rotation ranking near the bottom of MLB in several major categories after ranking among the top two or three last year.
The Enquirer will update this report.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds cut ties with pitching coach Derek Johnson after long absence
