Cincinnati Reds President of Baseball Operations Dick Williams today named Turner Ward hitting coach for new manager David Bell.
   Ward, 54, spent the last 3 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers as their hitting coach. During those 3 years, the Dodgers advanced to the Postseason by winning the National League West Division each year and advanced to the World Series in each of the last 2 seasons. He was on the Arizona Diamondbacks' Major League staff from 2013-2015, first as an assistant hitting coach and then the last 2 years there as hitting coach.
   "We are pleased to have Turner join our staff. He has mentored a number of successful hitters in both Arizona and Los Angeles," Williams said. "He comes highly recommended for his ability to connect with players and to help them maximize their potential."
   Ward is the second coach added to Bell's Major League staff, joining pitching coach Derek Johnson.    
   Under Ward's guidance, in each of the last 3 seasons Dodgers batters increased their run production over the prior year. Over the course of his tenure, Los Angeles ranked first in the National League in team home runs, second in walks, third in slugging percentage, fourth in on-base percentage and fifth in runs scored.
   In each of the 2017 and 2018 seasons the Dodgers established club records for home runs, extra-base hits and slugging percentage. In 2018, Dodgers batters led the NL with a franchise record 235 HR while establishing new Los Angeles records with 564 extra-base hits and a .442 slugging percentage. Seven Dodgers batters produced at least 20 home runs last year, the most in club history and the most ever by a National League club.
   Before joining Los Angeles, Ward spent 8 seasons total in the Diamondbacks organization. He was Class AA Mobile's hitting coach from 2008-2010 and Mobile's manager from 2011-2012 until he joined the Major League coaching staff in 2013. His Mobile teams won back-to-back Southern League championships in 2011 and 2012, and in 2011 he was named that league's Manager of the Year.
   Including stints at Mobile, Rookie GCL Pirates (2006) and Class A State College (2007), Ward went 216-190 (.532) in 4 seasons as a minor league manager. In 2012, he was a coach for the World Team at the 2012 All-Star Futures Game at Kansas City's Kauffman Stadium, and he also managed in the Southern League All-Star Game.
   The former infielder played 12 seasons in the Major Leagues with the Cleveland Indians (1990-1991), Toronto Blue Jays (1991-1993), Milwaukee Brewers (1994-1996), Pittsburgh Pirates (1997-1999), Diamondbacks (1999-2000) and Philadelphia Phillies (2001).