Reds Emphasize Base Running In Camp Have A New Third Base Coach

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Dateline: Goodyear, Arizona

Willie Harris is the Cincinnati Reds' new third-base coach for the 2026 season, announced on November 3, 2025. He replaces J.R. House, who departed for the Diamondbacks. Harris, a 12-year MLB veteran, previously managed the Reds' Single-A affiliate in Daytona in 2025 and served as the Cubs' third-base coach from 2021-2024. 

He played in 25 games for the Reds under Dusty Baker.

"We loved J.R.," Terry Francona said. "Willie is really good. I think what he did last year spoke volumes. He was a Major League coach. He goes down and coaches A ball and they played their ass off. It was an easy hire. There were some good people out there too. We felt it was right bringing him here. He deserved it."

Francona is emphasizing base running to take advantage of the Reds' speed on the base paths.

"I think we can do better at knowing where the ball is, all the time, trying to eliminate," Francona said. "We are fast for the most part. I don't think we were quite as aggressive last year as we were in the past. We were still one of the more aggressive teams. But when guys are sliding into second and the ball is still in the outfield, we have to be better at knowing where the ball is. You have to know within in a step or two. When the ball is swung at you glance in. That's all it is, it's a glance. Some guys are good at it. (Matt) McLain is really good at it. Some guys weren't taught that when they were young. Then it is a little bit of a challenge. We want to do it the best we can. If you don't know where the ball is you're relying on a little bit of luck. You don't want to do that. We want to know where the ball is to take advantage of our speed."

The importance of the third base coach comes into play. Especially a ball that is in right field as the runner is going into second base.

"That's the fall back. If you don't know where the ball is you better pick up Willie and he can make up your mind for you," Francona said. "We're going to spend a lot of time on it."