Cubs announce coaching staff for 2019 |
CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today named Tommy Hottovy as pitching coach, Terrmel Sledge as assistant hitting coach and Chris Denorfia as quality assurance coach. Furthermore, Mike Borzello has had associate pitching coach added to his title. Today’s announcement rounds out manager Joe Maddon’s 2019 major league coaching staff:
Brian Butterfield, third base coach, second season on the Cubs coaching staff in this role, 23rd season on a major league coaching staff. Butterfield will also continue to coach the club’s infielders. Tommy Hottovy, pitching coach, first season on a major league coaching staff. Hottovy joined the Cubs as a coordinator in major league scouting in 2015 following a 10-year pro pitching career, including parts of two seasons in the majors with Boston (2011) and Kansas City (2012). With the Cubs, Hottovy has worked within the major league pitching infrastructure for the last four seasons, formulating game plans with the coaching staff and assisting pitchers in their game preparation on a daily basis. Brandon Hyde, bench coach, sixth season on the Cubs coaching staff, third as bench coach (2014, 18-19), eighth on a big league coaching staff. Hyde also served as the club’s major league first base coach for three seasons (2015-17). Anthony Iapoce, hitting coach, first season on the Cubs coaching staff, fourth season as a major league hitting coach. Iapoce was named to this position on October 15 after serving as major league hitting coach for the Texas Rangers the last three seasons. He was the Cubs minor league hitting coordinator from 2013-15. Lester Strode, bullpen coach, 13th season as Cubs bullpen coach, 31st season in the Cubs organization. Will Venable, first base coach, second season on the Cubs coaching staff in this role. Venable will also continue to coach the club’s outfielders. Mike Borzello, associate pitching, catching and strategy coach, eighth season on the Cubs coaching staff, sixth season in this role, 24th season on a major league coaching staff. Associate pitching coach is new to Borzello’s title in 2019. Chris Denorfia, quality assurance coach, first season on a major league coaching staff. He joined the Cubs front office as a Special Assistant to the President/GM prior to the 2018 campaign after concluding his 10-year major league career with the Cubs in 2015. The former outfielder made his major league debut in 2005 and spent time with Cincinnati (2005-06), Oakland (2008-09), San Diego (2010-14), Seattle (2014) and the Cubs (2015). Terrmel Sledge, assistant hitting coach, first season on a major league coaching staff. Sledge returns to the Cubs organization after spending 2015 as hitting coach at Single-A Eugene. He has spent the last two seasons as a hitting coach in the Dodgers system. The former outfielder spent parts of four major league seasons with Montreal (2004), Washington (2005) and San Diego (2006-07) and also played five years professionally in Japan (2008-12). Juan Cabreja, staff assistant, third season on the Cubs coaching staff, 16th season in the Cubs organization. Franklin Font, staff assistant, eighth season on the Cubs coaching staff, 25th season in the Cubs organization. Chad Noble, bullpen catcher, sixth season with the Cubs in this role.
