According to reports, the Chicago Cubs have completed the hiring of manager Craig Counsell’s first coaching staff.
The Cubs plan to appoint Mart Strittmatter as catching coach and Darren Holmes as bullpen coach, according to The Athletic. The hirings have not been formally disclosed by the Cubs.
Chris Young and Craig Driver, who were employed by former manager David Ross, are replaced by Holmes and Strittmatter, respectively.
For three seasons, Holmes served as the Baltimore Orioles’ assistant pitching coach, assisting in the development of the team’s talented young players, including rookie Grayson Rodriguez and All-MLB pick Kyle Bradish. Holmes spent 13 years as a reliever in the Major League Baseball.
After the season, Holmes departed from the Orioles.
Strittmatter has been a member of the Colorado Rockies’ playing and coaching staff for almost his whole professional career. He worked for Clint Hurdle in Pittsburgh, and since 2022, he has also served as the Rockies’ minor-league catching coordinator. He was also on Hurdle’s staff in Pittsburgh.
With the exception of his bench coach, Counsell was permitted to make changes to the coaching staff. After Andy Green left to join the New York Mets, the Cubs hired Ryan Flaherty, who had served as Bob Melvin’s bench coach with San Diego in 2023, to fill the same role.
After seven years as a Major League player, Flaherty took his first coaching position with the Padres.
Although Counsell hired John Mallee to be Kelly’s assistant, he kept hitting coach Dustin Kelly on staff. Mallee takes over for Johnny Washington, who is joining the Los Angeles Angels under Ron Washington as hitting coach. Mallee coached hitting for the Cubs in Triple-A.
Coaches of first base Mike Napoli, third base Willie Harris, assistant pitching coach Daniel Moskos, and pitching coach Tommy Hottovy are also anticipated to return to the Cubs.
