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The Cubs had one spot left to complete their coaching staff for 2020 and on Sunday ESPN’s Jesse Rogers reported the final hire.
So, Driver will replace Will Venable as the team’s first base coach as well as serving as a catching coach. Venable is expected to move to third base coach next season.
Driver spent the last two seasons as the Phillies’ receiving coach and bullpen catcher. Under Driver’s tutelage, J.T. Realmuto threw out 46.7% of base stealers in 2019, which was a significant bump up from his previous career high of 38.2%. For his career, Willson Contreras has only thrown out 31.2% of base stealers, while framing continues to be a major flaw in his game.
Here’s the Cubs 2020 coaching staff under first-year manager David Ross.
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Bench coach: Andy Green
Pitching coach: Tommy Hottovy
Associate pitching coach, catching and strategy coach: Mike Borzello
Hitting coach: Anthony Iapoce
Assistant hitting coach: Terrmel Sledge
First base coach, catching coach: Craig Driver
Third base coach: Will Venable
Bullpen coach: Chris Young
Quality assurance coach: Mike Napoli
Coaches from the 2019 staff under Joe Maddon who will also not be returning include: bench coach Mark Loretta, third base coach Brian Butterfield, bullpen coach Lester Strode and quality assurance coach Chris Denorfia.
Longtime strength and conditioning coach Tim Buss has also departed the Cubs this offseason, leaving to join Maddon with the Angels.
Photo courtesy of Sports Talk Philly
