New Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona is adding one of his well-known former players to his coaching staff.
Former World Series champion Mike Napoli will join Francona’s staff in an undetermined role, according to Rob Bradford of WEEI. Napoli most recently spent three seasons as the Chicago Cubs’ first base coach.
Per source, Mike Napoli will be joining Terry Francona and the Reds in some capacity pic.twitter.com/cFMkMJYOwD
— Rob Bradford (@bradfo) November 23, 2024
Napoli played for Francona in Cleveland for one year. Though brief, that was the 2016 season that saw the team get to the World Series, only to lose in seven games to the Cubs. Napoli also spent significant time with the Boston Red Sox, where he won the World Series in 2013, though he and Francona were not there at the same time.
Francona surprised many by taking the Reds job — even himself, at least to a degree. The rest of his staff has largely been filled out already, leaving Napoli’s role to be determined.
