After several disappointing seasons, the Cincinnati Reds hope a revitalized Terry Francona can breathe new life into the franchise.
The Reds hired Francona as the manager this week after he took the last year off to focus on his health. Cincinnati has not won a World Series since 1990 and Francona has the experience and the pedigree to end that drought.
Cincinnati is also a bit of a homecoming for Francona, who played one season for the Reds in 1987. That team finished 84–78 but won the World Series three years later.
Francona sees the same potential with the current Reds players, including young phenom Elly De La Cruz and fellow 2024 All-Star Hunter Greene. The Reds dismissed David Bell as manager on Sept. 22.
“I am so honored to rejoin the Reds family,” Francona said at his introductory press conference. “Spending the ‘87 season here, I quickly learned how important not just baseball, but the Reds are to this area. For anybody of an age who can remember the ’87 season, I apologize in advance. ... That was a team that featured some young players. That talented group reminds me a lot of the talented group we have here now. And I am so excited and fired up to start to work with the players.”
Francona compiled a 1950–1672 record over 23 seasons as a Major League Baseball manager for the Philadelphia Phillies (1997–2000), Boston Red Sox (2004–2011), and Cleveland Indians (2013–2023).
He has earned 11 postseason berths, posting a 44–34 record.
His 2004 championship with the Red Sox ended an 86-year championship drought, and Francona won another World Series for Boston in 2007. The Indians advanced to the World Series in 2016 under Francona but lost to the Chicago Cubs.
Francona was American League Manager of the Year in 2013, 2016, and 2022. He has also won 90 games in a season 12 times and is the Indians’ all-time leader for wins with 921.
“Terry is a future Hall of Fame manager that has experience winning with young talent,” President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall said at the press conference. “I’m extremely excited that he wanted to be a Red, and he is the right person to take us towards our goal of winning a championship.”
Francona had to step away from managing the Indians in 2021 and 2023 because of health issues related to blood clots and stomach problems. He also had to undergo shoulder surgery. The year away from the game has revitalized him.
“I didn’t step away because I didn’t love the game,” Francona said at his news conference. “I stepped away because I didn’t think I was doing the job up to the caliber I thought was necessary. A lot of it was health and it was getting in the way.”
Francona also spent 10 years as a player in Major League Baseball. In addition to playing for the Reds, he was a first-round pick of the Montreal Expos in 1980 and appeared in 365 games with the franchise from 1981 through 1985. He also played for the Cubs (1986), Indians (1988), and Milwaukee Brewers (1989–1990).
As a result, the players can relate to him as a manager.
“I firmly believe that players enjoy being coached, as long as there is always a solid reason and you’re ultra-organized,“ Francona said. ”My promise to the organization and to the fans is I will spend all my energy ensuring they spend all of their energy trying to play the game correctly and with respect.”
Francona also comes from a baseball family. His father, Tito, played for nine teams over 16 years in Major League Baseball.
