NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Cubs today announced David Ross’ second big league coaching staff, which’ll run alongside him for the 2021 season. Mostly it should look familiar to you, with the changes only at third base (Willie Harris) and assistant hitting coach (Chris Valaika).
The coaches, from the official team release:
Craig Driver, first base/catching coach, second season on the Cubs coaching staff. He spent the 2018-19 seasons as Philadelphia’s bullpen catcher/receiving coach following catching coach duties at Yale University in 2016-17.
Andy Green, bench coach, second season on the Cubs coaching staff following nearly four seasons as manager of the San Diego Padres from 2016-19. Prior to joining the Padres, Green served as third base coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks during the 2015 campaign, his first season coaching at the big league level.
Willie Harris, third base coach, first season on the Cubs coaching staff after he was the Reds minor league outfield and baserunning coordinator in 2020. He was a manager in the Giants system from 2017-19 after starting his coaching career as a minor league hitting coach in 2016. Harris played 12 major league seasons and 1,046 games among seven franchises, winning the 2005 World Series with the Chicago White Sox.
Tommy Hottovy, pitching coach, third season on the Cubs coaching staff. Hottovy joined the Cubs as a coordinator in major league scouting in 2015 and was promoted to major league pitching coach December 2018. He had a 10-year pro pitching career, including parts of two seasons in the majors with Boston (2011) and Kansas City (2012).
Anthony Iapoce, hitting coach, third season on the Cubs coaching staff, sixth season as a major league hitting coach. Prior to rejoining the Cubs organization, Iapoce was major league hitting coach for Texas from 2016-18.
Chris Young, bullpen coach, second season on the Cubs coaching staff after spending the 2019 season as Philadelphia’s major league pitching coach and 2018 as their assistant major league pitching coach. Young pitched six minor league seasons in the Colorado (2002-05), Pittsburgh (2005) and Marlins (2006-07) organizations.
Mike Borzello, associate pitching, catching and strategy coach, 10th season on the Cubs coaching staff, eighth in this role, 26th season on a major league coaching staff. Associate pitching coach was added to Borzello’s title in 2019.
Mike Napoli, quality assurance coach, second season on a major league coaching staff. Napoli turned in a 12-year major league career with the Angels (2006-10), Rangers (2011-12, 2015, 2017), Red Sox (2013-15) and Indians (2016). Napoli was a 2012 All Star with the Rangers, was a member of the 2013 World Series champion Red Sox and appeared in the World Series two additional times with Texas (2011) and Cleveland (2016).
Chris Valaika, assistant hitting coach, first season on the Cubs coaching staff and his fifth as a coach in the organization. Spent the previous two seasons as Chicago’s minor league hitting coordinator. The former infielder played parts of four seasons in the majors with Cincinnati (2010-11), Miami (2013) and the Cubs (2014).
Kyle Evans, senior director of major league data and development, second season on the Cubs coaching staff. Evans is in his 10th season in the Cubs organization, most recently serving as senior director of player personnel. Evans, who joined the Cubs front office in 2012, pitched for six seasons in the Indians minor league system before joining the Red Sox in advance scouting for 2006 and 2007.
Juan Cabreja, staff assistant, fifth season on the Cubs coaching staff, 18th season in the Cubs organization.
Chad Noble, bullpen catcher, eighth season with the Cubs in this role.
