Cubs hire pitching guru Tyler Zombro as special assistant |
It has been a while since the Cubs made a move of any sort, but that all ended on Monday as Craig Counsell made a very promising hire to his staff. No, it wasn't a first base coach, which the Cubs still need, but instead, someone added to the pitching staff who is not only one of the up-and-coming coaches in the game but is seen as one of the best coaches in the game.
Jeff Passan broke the news that the Cubs are hiring 30-year-old Tyler Zombro to their staff. He will be taking over a pitching analyst role with the Cubs. His official title is special assistant, but after looking further into it, I see that he will be taking over an analyst role as the Cubs continue to focus on the analytical side of baseball. Since coming into the league, Zombro has become one of baseball’s preeminent pitching trainers at Tread Athletics, and he’ll work in all areas of Chicago’s organization to help improve the performance of the Cubs’ arms. That alone should get a lot of fans excited, as the Cubs dealt with far too many injuries to their pitching staff last season, especially the younger guys. With the Cubs in the market for more pitching help, some of that help could come from Jordan Wicks, Ben Brown, and potentially Cade Horton. However, given their injury history, there are some concerns about the longevity of their arms. Hopefully, Zombro can uncover what has led to those injuries and get the Cubs pitchers on a routine that can at least keep them healthier for longer periods of time. Zombro is no stranger to the Rays system. He was one of their pitching prospects before pitching in the Rangers system during the 2023 season. Following the conclusion of the 2023 season, Zombro chose to hang up his spikes for good and elected to join the Rays coaching ranks for the 2024 season. Not only did Zombro take over a role with Thread as a pitching specialist, but he is also a highly respected guy destined to have a bright future as a coach in this game. Knowing that the Cubs not only pounced on him quickly but immediately named him a special assistant tells you all you need to know, as the Cubs view him just as highly as most of the other organizations do. This move doesn't necessarily come as a shock, as the Cubs have been prioritizing staying ahead of the curve long-term when it comes to analytics. Zombro falls in line with the plan and should give the Cubs a leg up on many other organizations for some of the pitching tactics that you need to be successful in this league. One of the things the Cubs have been known for since Jed Hoyer took over, and quite frankly, have been very good at, is their pitching lab. That is why you see some of the reclamation project-type signings you have seen over the years as the Cubs identify something they like in a pitcher and try to get them into the lab to maximize what they like. Zombro could be a big part of that this season, as there is a video out there where he talks about a Death Ball, which is a form of breaking ball. The pitch has been out there for years, but not many people have been taking the time to develop it. He has during his time with the Rays, and you can almost guarantee that he will look to develop it even further with the Cubs. If the name Zombro sounds familiar, it would be because he was someone who was struck in the head by a liner during the 2021 MLB season, leading to a significant head injury. As scary as it was, it's good to know he was able to recover from that injury, but it is the main reason why he called it quits following the 2023 season, as he dealt with constant nerve issues following the shot to the head. Zombro has also stated that he likes to help others more than himself and will continue to do that with the Cubs. This is a massive hire by this team and one that will be overlooked, but in the grand scheme of things, it shouldn't be overlooked.
