The Cubs have hired former Phillies coach Craig Driver to fill the final spot on new manager David Ross’ coaching staff for 2020, sources confirmed Sunday.
Driver, 31, becomes the Cubs’ new first base coach and catching coach, an area he earned praise for his work with Phillies Gold Glove catcher J.T. Realmuto.
Former Cubs first base coach is expected to move to third base in 2020.
Driver, a former college catcher with the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, spent the past two seasons as the Phillies’ bullpen catcher and receiving coach. He spent five previous seasons coaching in college, most recently as catching coach for Yale in 2016-17.
Driver fills the opening on the staff created when third base coach Brian Butterfield left for former manger Joe Maddon’s staff in Anaheim.
He is the fourth new Cubs coach since Ross was hired to replace Maddon. The others: bench coach Andy Green (replacing Mark Loretta), bullpen coach Chris Young (Lester Strode) and quality assurance coach Mike Napoli (Chris Denorfia).
