MLB News: Team With NL’s Lowest Batting Average Fires 3 Hitting Coaches [Video]

After a season in which they hit .231, the lowest batting average in the National League, the Cincinnati Reds have been busy cleaning house.

First, manager David Bell was fired and replaced by a name-brand manager in Terry Francona. Infield coach Jeff Pickler was fired, as well.

Tuesday, yet another shoe dropped: all three of the Reds’ hitting coaches will not return in 2025, the team announced. Hitting coach Joel McKeithan, and assistant hitting coaches Terry Bradshaw and Tim LaMonte, were all shown the door Tuesday.

The house cleaning was thorough but, at least on paper, not difficult to understand.

The Reds were seen as a potential up-and-coming team in a relatively wide-open NL Central. After Bell led them to an 82-80 finish with one of the youngest rosters in the NL, the Reds appeared poised to take the next step and contend for a postseason berth.