The Reds announced their coaching staff under new manager Terry Francona. A new addition, previously unreported, is Brad Mills as bench coach. Freddie Benavides, who became the Reds’ bench coach in 2019, is now listed as bench coach/field coordinator.
Mills, who turns 68 in January, is a familiar figure for new Reds manager Terry Francona. Francona managed in Philadelphia from 1997 to 2000, Boston from 2004 to 2011, and Cleveland from 2013 to 2023. Mills served as the Phillies’ first base coach during Francona’s time there and as bench coach for the Red Sox for most of Francona’s tenure. Mills left to manage the Astros from 2010 to 2012 but rejoined Francona in Cleveland in 2013.
Mills began his time in Cleveland as third base coach but transitioned to bench coach in 2014, a position he held through 2019. He sat out the 2020 season, which was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; however, as reported by Gordon Wittenmyer of the *Cincinnati Enquirer*, Mills actually stepped away due to the tragic drowning of his 18-month-old grandson. In 2021, Mills took on an unspecified non-coaching role with Cleveland, making this his first return to the dugout in several years.
Francona took a break from baseball in 2024 to focus on his health but will return in 2025 as the Reds’ manager, bringing some familiar faces onto his staff. Chris Valaika, Cleveland’s hitting coach from 2022 to 2024, joined Cincinnati last month. Now, Mills will reunite with Francona as bench coach, while Benavides remains with the team, though possibly in an adjusted role.
