When given the actual funds to invest, the Cincinnati Reds pitching staff has been more than proficient in recent years. Luis Castillo emerged as an absolute star, while each of Sonny Gray and Wade Miley flashed brilliance in their time with the club. Even in 2022, when the club was thoroughly rebuilding, the high-priced youth movement evolved into a force down the stretch, with former 1st round picks Nick Lodolo and Hunter Greene beginning to look the part.
Along the way, they’ve had their fair share of innovators pulling the strings, too. Derek Johnson was seen as a crucial hire, and has since emerged as the all-encompassing pitching coordinator for the entire organization.