Mallee joins Cubs as new hitting coach
The Cubs wasted little time hiring a new hitting coach. And their staff for the 2015 season will have a distinctly Chicago flavor.
John Mallee, a native of Chicago's South Side, was named hitting coach. He replaces Bill Mueller, who resigned earlier this week. Mallee most recently was the hitting coach for the Houston Astros.
The Cubs also named Doug Dascenzo first-base and outfield coach. Dascenzo was an outfielder for the Cubs from 1988-92. Eric Hinske will go from first-base coach to Mallee's assistant hitting coach.
There had been speculation the Cubs would name former big-league slugger Manny Ramirez the assistant hitting coach. But that was a long shot. Ramirez worked this past season as a player-coach with the Class AAA Iowa farm club. Cubs president Theo Epstein, however, said Ramirez has not yet decided to retire as a player.
In the 45-year-old Mallee, the Cubs are getting a veteran hitting coach who worked with the Astros the last two seasons, coaching 2014 batting champion Jose Altuve. Mallee also was the Marlins hitting coach in 2010-11. He has 19 seasons of coaching experience in pro ball.
“It's a dream come true,” he told the Houston media. “I grew up a Cubs fan and always dreamed of standing on the field and representing this amazing franchise. I have been in professional baseball as a player or coach for more than 20 years and have never had an opportunity to see my family during the season until now. Leaving the Houston Astros is the toughest decision I've ever had to make.”
Mallee will be the Cubs' fourth hitting coach in four seasons. Mueller's resignation was tied to family considerations and to the Cubs' reassigning assistant hitting coach Mike Brumley, for whom Mueller lobbied to bring here.
Dascenzo, 50, was drafted by the Cubs in 1985. He most recently worked as the third-base coach of the Atlanta Braves. The 2014 season was his first as a coach at the big-league level. He spent 13 years as a manager or coach in the San Diego Padres system.
The rest of the Cubs coaching staff remains intact: Chris Bosio (pitching), Brandon Hyde (bench), Lester Strode (bullpen), Gary Jones (third base), Mike Borzello (catching and strategy), Jose Castro (quality assurance) and Franklin Font (staff assistant).