NEWSLETTER
Today, the Chicago Cubs made their full 2025 coaching staff announcement, officially unveiling Craig Counsell’s crew. Because of the timing of his hiring last fall, it’s the first group Counsell had a hand in assembling from the close of the season to the announcement.
Although there are a number of holdovers, including bench coach Ryan Flaherty, hitting coach Dustin Kelly, and pitching coach Tommy Hottovy, there are several new arrivals, including Quintin Berry at third base, Jose Javier at first base, and Casey Jacobson as the assistant pitching coach. There were also promotions on the strength and condition side, as well as the addition of a new staff assistant, A.J. Lewis.
The Cubs’ official announcement press release:
The Chicago Cubs today announced Craig Counsell’s major league coaching staff for the 2025 campaign. Jose Javier has been named first base coach, Quentin Berry as third base coach, Casey Jacobson as assistant pitching coach, A.J. Lewis as staff assistant and Mark Strittmatter will move to bullpen coach. Additionally, Kevin Poppe has been named head strength and conditioning coach and Mark Weisman has been named assistant strength and conditioning coach. The nine other coaches on his staff are returning from the 2024 season.
Ryan Flaherty, bench coach: second season with the Cubs after four years with the Padres including the 2023 season as bench coach/offensive coordinator. Joined San Diego’s coaching staff in 2020 as a major league advance scout/development coach before serving as quality control coach in 2022. A former infielder, he was selected by the Cubs in the first round (41st overall) of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft and went on to play eight seasons in the majors with Baltimore (2012-17), Atlanta (2018) and Cleveland (2019).
Tommy Hottovy, pitching coach: seventh season in this role, his 11th working within the Cubs major league pitching infrastructure dating to 2015, first as advance scout, run prevention. A former left-handed pitcher, he made his major league debut in 2011 with Boston and also pitched with the Royals in 2012.
Dustin Kelly, hitting coach: third season in this role following two years as the organization’s minor league hitting coordinator. In this role he oversees the team’s major league hitting infrastructure. Kelly served as a hitting coach in the Dodgers farm system from 2018-20 following a playing career that spanned three seasons (2004-06) in the Red Sox system. A former infielder, he was selected by Boston in the 15th round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft.
Jose Javier, first base coach: first season on the Cubs coaching staff after spending 2024 as a defensive coach for the New York Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate, Scranton-Wilkes Barre. Prior to his time with Scranton-Wilkes Barre, he spent eight years coaching within the Yankees farm system from 2016-2023. A former infielder, he played six seasons in the Yankees minor league system from 2010-15.
Quintin Berry, third base coach: first season with the Cubs organization following four seasons as the first base coach for Milwaukee from 2021-24 and three seasons coaching in the Brewers minor league system from 2018-2020. Had a 13-season professional career, including time in the majors with Detroit (2012), Boston (2013), Baltimore (2014), the Cubs (2015), and Milwaukee (2017).
Mark Strittmatter, bullpen coach: first season in this role and second year with the Cubs, after serving as the Cubs major league field coordinator in 2024. He previously spent 11 seasons in the Rockies organization as the catching coordinator. Was a major league coach for the Pirates in 2011-12 after eight seasons as the Rockies bullpen catcher from 2003-10. A former catcher, Strittmatter spent most of his playing career in the Rockies minor league system from 1992-2000 with a brief stint on the major league club in 1998.
Casey Jacobson, assistant pitching coach: first season in this position on the Cubs coaching staff and sixth in the Cubs organization. Spent the previous two seasons as the organization’s minor league senior coordinator of pitching development. Was formally an instructor at Driveline Baseball after spending six years coaching at the college level.
John Mallee, assistant hitting coach: second season in this role after one season as Triple-A Iowa’s hitting coach, and his 28th season coaching professional baseball. Was the Cubs major league hitting coach from 2015-17, then held the same role with the Phillies from 2018-19 before he was the Angels major league assistant hitting coach from 2020-22. Mallee played 115 minor league games as an infielder before breaking into coaching in the Brewers farm system from 1996-2000.
Juan Cabreja, assistant hitting coach: third season in this role after six years as a major league staff assistant, and his 22nd year in the Cubs organization. Has served as a coach, manager or coordinator in the Cubs chain since 2004. A former infielder, has managed eight minor league seasons, including five in the Dominican Summer League.
Jonathan Mota, major league coach: third season in this position after two seasons as staff assistant, and his ninth year as a coach or manager in the organization. Among his responsibilities, will work with infielders and infield defense. The former infielder played in the minors with the Cubs from 2004-15, appearing at every position in his career, and was a non-roster invitee to big league Spring Training in 2012.
Alex Smith, major league coach, data development and process: third season in this position after serving as assistant director, major league data and development. He previously was coordinator, major league data and development and joined the Cubs in 2015 after graduating from Cornell University with a BASc in Industrial and Labor Relations.
A.J. Lewis, staff assistant: first season in this role and as a coach after playing four seasons in the Colorado Rockies system from 2021-24. As a senior at Eastern Kentucky University, he was named to the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year watch list. The Chicago native signed with the Rockies in July 2020 as a free agent.
Garrett Lloyd, bullpen catcher: fourth season in this position after serving as a development coach for Chicago in 2021. Was a coach in the Dodgers farm system from 2019-20 following a year as a minor league video associate in 2018 for Double-A San Antonio in the Padres chain.
Erick Castillo, bullpen catcher: second season in this role following a 10-year playing career from 2013-22. The former catcher played 407 minor league games, all with the Cubs organization, and made his major league debut in September 2021.
The Cubs have also named Kevin Poppe as head major league strength and conditioning coach and Mark Weisman as assistant major league strength and conditioning coach. Poppe and Weisman are entering their third and fourth years in the Cubs organization, respectively, and the first at the major league level for both.
