OVERHAUL: Cincinnati Reds Must HIRE External Pitching Coach After Derek Johnson's Departure

Cincinnati Reds must break the cycle: Can an outside pitching coach spark the turnaround this team desperately needs? With pitching depth evaporating, command problems spiraling, and the Derek Johnson era officially over, the Reds are at a crossroads. Will Nick Krall’s search for a fresh perspective finally address the walk epidemic and revive their struggling rotation of Chase Burns, Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, Rhett Lowder, and Brandon Williamson? Jeff and Steve analyze what went wrong in 2026, why internal options like Matt Tracy and Oscar Marin won’t cut it, and what questions an outside hire must answer to unlock the full potential of this young staff. They spotlight the urgent need for a bold minor league pitching coordinator to rescue a faltering prospect pipeline and insist that simply “outcoaching” roster issues isn’t an option. Can the Reds finally restore their pitching factory reputation—or will indecision doom another season? Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… Everydayer Club   If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join the Locked On Reds community: https://lockedonreds.supercast.com    BOOKMARK Sports Illustrated’s Cincinnati Reds site, Cincinnati Reds Talk! https://www.si.com/mlb/reds/ Also follow @jefffcarr and @soffenbaker on Twitter 00:00 Derek Johnson Departure & Replacement 12:15 Reds Rotation Issues 2027 20:56 Minor League Pitching Coordinator Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Gameday Mens Health Gameday Men’s Health is a real, in-person men’s health clinic that looks at the full picture before developing a treatment plan. Book your complimentary test and consult at https://join.gamedaymenshealth.com/re... KALSHI For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon FanDuel This season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) #Reds #CincinnatiReds #MLB