John Mallee knows a thing or two about what it takes for a coaching staff to help lead a team to a World Series title. He served as the Cubs’ hitting coach for three years, including the club’s 2016 World Series title run.
He’ll be returning to the Cubs’ major-league staff next season, a source confirmed. Mallee spent last season as the Cubs’ Triple-A Iowa hitting coach. His addition isn’t seen as a slight on the major-league hitting coach group, led by Dustin Kelly, but rather a reflection of the positive impact Mallee made around the big-league team late last season, after the 2023 Triple-A season ended.
Manager David Ross’ coaching staff is in flux, after parting with bullpen coach Chris Young and catching/game strategy coach Craig Driver. The team won’t announce its full 2024 staff until closer to spring training.
Mallee played a crucial role in helping Cubs position-player prospects prepare for the major leagues this past year.
“Conversations with John Mallee down in Triple-A set me on a really good path,” top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong said before his first major-league start in the outfield. “It’s all just helped me create an approach, something to fall back on, a little default if I’m ever scrambling a little bit.”
Ross, too, had high praise for his former hitting coach.
“There’s a lot that he can bring to the table,” he said in September, “with real credibility of some of the greatest players that have played the game.”
Over the course of a decades-long coaching career, Mallee has also served as a major-league coach for the Marlins, Astros, Phillies and Angels.
Now, some of those prospects that Mallee guided in Triple-A this year — such as Miguel Amaya, who proved he was major-league ready ahead of schedule, Crow-Armstrong, who still is looking for his first major-league hit, and Alexander Canario, who provided heroics despite limited playing time — have a chance to make an impact on the major-league roster next year. And Mallee will be on hand to help continue their development.
