Cubs announce 2024 coaching staff

CHICAGO -- The suddenness of the hiring of manager Craig Counsell in early November made constructing a coaching staff a more challenging process. Counsell wanted to make sure he took a deliberate approach to get things right.

During his introductory press conference at Wrigley Field, Counsell emphasized the “need to go slow” as he worked through getting to know his new ballclub, while also forming his staff for 2024. Counsell stayed true to his word, leading to Tuesday’s unveiling of his coaching group for the year ahead.

“Look, a bit of a late start on the coaching staff process for a number of reasons,” Counsell said during the Winter Meetings. “There were some really good pieces in place, and there were some places for growth on the staff that I think I can help with. And, really, I'm looking forward to doing that.”

Counsell’s new bench coach will be Ryan Flaherty, who comes to the North Siders after most recently serving in the same role with the Padres. The 37-year-old Flaherty enjoyed an eight-year MLB career and, per Cubs GM Carter Hawkins, earned rave reviews from Buck Showalter, who managed the former infielder in Baltimore.

Flaherty was also a college teammate at Vanderbilt with Hawkins, who said their “relationship was a catalyst for the conversation” about the job.

“He understands the game on a lot of different levels,” Hawkins said during the Winter Meetings. “He understands the newer aspects of the game, but also can speak to the older, more nuanced aspects of the game. I think he just fits really well in a role like this bench coach role. Add to that, the opportunity to learn under a guy like Counsell, and it was a really good opportunity for him as well."

Former Cubs bench coach Andy Green took a job in the Mets’ player-development department this winter.

The pitching infrastructure will continue to be led by pitching coach Tommy Hottovy and assistant pitching coach Daniel Moskos. Hottovy was elevated to the lead role on the staff ahead of the 2019 season, while Moskos joined the Cubs from the Yankees’ Minor League coaching ranks prior to ‘22.

Joining Hottovy and Moskos will be new bullpen coach Darren Holmes, who replaces Chris Young in that role. Holmes, 57, pitched for 13 seasons in the Majors with eight teams and the early part of his career overlapped with Counsell’s playing days with Colorado. Holmes comes to Chicago after working as a bullpen coach for the Orioles (2020-23) and Rockies (‘15-19).

On the hitting side, Dustin Kelly will return as the lead hitting coach with John Mallee promoted to assistant hitting coach. Juan Cabreja and Jim Adduci also return as assistant hitting coaches, with Adduci also having game-planning duties as part of his role.

Mallee, who was the Cubs’ hitting coach in the 2015-17 seasons, worked as Triple-A Iowa’s hitting coach last year after stints on the MLB staff for the Phillies and Angels. Mallee assumes the assistant hitting coach role that was previously held by Johnny Washington, who left the Cubs this offseason to take the lead MLB hitting coach job under new Angels manager Ron Washington.

First-base coach Mike Napoli and third-base coach Willie Harris will return for Chicago, along with Jonathan Mota (Major League coach), Alex Smith (Major League coach, data development and process) and Garrett Lloyd (bullpen catcher).

After dismissing game strategy and catching coach Craig Driver after last season, the Cubs have hired Mark Strittmatter as their new Major League field coordinator. Strittmatter, 54, has spent the bulk of the past 20 seasons coaching in the Rockies’ farm system. He spent the past 11 seasons in the Colorado organization as a catching coordinator.

“Our coaching staff’s job is to help the players be better at their jobs,” Counsell said. “And I think we have some really good tool sets on this coaching staff to do so.”