Ross enjoys watching Cubs' rookie debuts
Earlier this week, P.J. Higgins became the fifth Cubs player to make his major league debut this season, joining pitcher Justin Steele, Keegan Thompson, Tommy Nance and Trevor Megill.
Manager David Ross was asked how much he enjoys watching guys come up to the majors for the first time.
"Yeah, it's the best," Ross said. "I didn't have any coaching experience coming into this job, but you really do find out why coaches love players and love to see them succeed and love to put in the work and watch them have success.
"Their success is our success and watching them grow and develop and go into their first big-league game. Anybody who's been on the field can relate to what that feels like and those nerves when you first get a chance to live a dream.
"When they come off and I see the smiles or the hands are shaking or the nerves are there or they're not - all that stuff makes me smile and laugh and takes me back to the great memories I have of when I first made that same journey and all the things that were going through my head."
Ross made his major league debut for the Dodgers on June 29, 2002 in a SoCal rivalry game at Anaheim. He struck out as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning of a 7-0 loss against Aaron Sele.
All of the Cubs rookies, especially the pitchers, did well in their debuts. Steele, Thompson and Nance have done plenty of help the Cubs bullpen become one of the best in the majors.
"There's definitely a moment there that all big-leaguers can relate to and you just love to see guys have success," Ross said. "I'm proud of those guys for embracing those moments and getting out there and succeeding."
Twitter: @McGrawDHBulls