Terry Francona, the new manager of the Cincinnati Reds, has appointed Chris Valaika as the team's Director of Hitting and Major League Hitting Coach, marking his first coaching hire since taking over the team. Valaika, who previously served as the Cleveland Guardians' hitting coach for three years, reunites with Francona, under whom he previously worked. A former Major League infielder, Valaika played for Cincinnati, Miami, and the Chicago Cubs across four seasons. He was originally drafted by the Reds in 2006 and began his coaching career in 2017, with experience in both minor and major league coaching roles, including with the Cubs as an assistant hitting coach. Valaika replaces Joel McKeithan and will lead the Reds' revamped hitting strategy following the dismissal of their previous hitting coaches. This move signifies a new direction for the Reds as Francona builds his coaching staff.