How Terry Francona is Motivating Cincinnati Reds in 2026

The Cincinnati Reds reached the postseason as a National League Wild Card team in 2025. Cincinnati was not expected by many to compete, but the ball club silenced the doubters by reaching the postseason.

The Reds' stay in October did not last long, as they lost their Wild Card series to the eventual champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Nevertheless, the run to the playoffs provided valuable experience for the young players on the roster.

One person who has plenty of experience when it comes to meaningful October baseball is Terry Francona. The future Hall of Fame manager explained during an interview with Foul Territory how he plans to motivate his ball club for 2026 after the team's '25 playoff run.

"I told our guys, remember how good it felt to pop champagne in Milwaukee, but also, remember three days later, how much it hurt when we got sent home before we were ready," Francona said.

There's a reason he is regarded as one of the greatest managers in recent memory. Francona simply knows how to get the most out of his players. That's the kind of message that is destined to cause players to reflect and feel motivated to win.

Of course, Francona has experience coaching underdogs. He helped the Boston Red Sox erase an 0-3 deficit in the 2004 American League Championship Series. Boston went on to win its first Fall Classic since 1918.

Francona almost helped the Cleveland Indians (now Cleveland Guardians) snap a drought of their own in 2016. Cleveland fell just short in the World Series that year, losing in seven games to the Chicago Cubs. Although they still have not won a championship since 1948, Francona helped them come close to getting the job done.

Now, Francona is looking to help Cincinnati win its first championship since 1990.

The Reds should feel confident with Francona leading the way. The ball club itself features talent, as the starting rotation -- led by All-Star Hunter Greene -- may be among the best in baseball. Cincinnati's lineup is not perfect, but Elly De La Cruz and Eugenio Suarez could help the offense perform better than expected.

In the end, it is Terry Francona who is the difference-maker. Managers do not always make especially big impacts, but Francona is one of the coaches in MLB who is capable of turning a fringe contender into a legitimate postseason team.