Mets Hire Derek Johnson As Pitching Advisor

After a controversial move last offseason, the New York Mets are slowly making up for that.

Derek Johnson, the former Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers pitching coach, was hired by the New York Mets to serve as a pitching advisor, according to multiple reports.

Johnson was fired by the Reds after this past season with one year remaining on his contract, but not due to performance reasons. Johnson took a leave of absence from the team in June for unspecified reasons, with that lasting through the end of the season. While details of the move were not disclosed, Johnson being hired by the Mets in this role could be a sign that Johnson could not commit to being a full-time on-field coach.

He had been with the Reds since the 2019 season, adding the title of director of pitching in 2022, and is a well-respected pitching coach. Before that, he was the Brewers' pitching coach for three seasons, leaving to be closer to his home. With the Reds, he oversaw the development of pitchers including Hunter Greene, Chase Burnes and Rhett Lowder. He also was in the Chicago Cubs' system and was the pitching coach at Vanderbilt for 11 seasons.

Last offseason, the Mets shockingly fired pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, who wound up with NL East rival Atlanta.