CINCINNATI – Titularly, Derek Johnson is the Reds’ pitching coach, but to Johnson and the rest of the Reds, his duties will go beyond the big-league pitching staff. He will be charged with something much larger, much more difficult and vital. That’s why Johnson, 47, left the Milwaukee Brewers to join the Reds, to do something difficult. His new charge is building not just the Reds’ pitching staff, but building its identity.



“This is all about creating an organization and philosophy that’s aligned,” said Dick Williams, the Reds’ president of baseball operations. “That’s something Derek is really excited about and we are as well. It’s something every organization strives for but it’s an ongoing challenge. You have to get the right personnel with the right message and right personalities to make it happen.”



The Reds officially announced Johnson as the team’s new pitching coach on Friday...