Given the openings on the Cubs’ coaching staff, given the past relationship with Craig Counsell, and given the drip-drip of reporting that suggested he wasn’t going to return to the Brewers, I’d kinda been assuming for a while now that Quintin Berry would soon be added to the Cubs’ coaching staff.
Sure enough, that is coming to pass:
Berry, 39, had been the Brewers’ first base coach for the last four seasons, with a particular focus on base-running. Per the report, with the Cubs, he’ll be the third base coach and base-running coach.
The third base thing is always more visible in games, but it’s the work Berry will do with baserunners that hopefully provides the most value over a full season. He has also worked with the outfielders, and he may coach in that area for the Cubs as well. Former third base coach Willie Harris worked with the outfielders, and former first base coach Mike Napoli worked on base-running, for what it’s worth.
Berry is an old friend, by the way, having briefly been on the Cubs’ roster as a base-running specialist back in 2015.
More on Berry and the coaching staff soon.