Former catcher David Ross was officially named the Cubs' new manager on Thursday, replacing his one-time mentor Joe Maddon, and he isn't holding back on his plans for the team.
"A lot has been made, and rightfully so, of my connection to the 2016 World Series team, and the notion that I'll now be managing the players I once counted on as teammates," he said in a statement. "Having those relationships going into this will be a bonus, no doubt about it. But those guys know I'll be the first to hold them accountable, the first to demand their best daily effort and the first to let them know about it if they give anything but their best."
News of the hire was first reported Wednesday. The Cubs tweeted Thursday morning that Ross agreed to a three-year contract through the 2022 season with a club option for 2023.
Ross, currently an analyst for ESPN and a special adviser with the Cubs, was the betting favorite for the position ever since Joe Maddon was allowed to leave the club after the 2019 season. Ross retired in 2016 after spending two seasons with the Cubs, culminating with a Game 7 home run off of Andrew Miller in the 2016 World Series.
Cubs President Theo Epstein said Ross' "connection to the organization and his relationships with his former teammates could be assets initially, but they were not factors in our decision nor will they be critical to his long-term success in the role."
"He earned the job on the merits, and he will move the team forward in a new and different direction," Epstein said in a statement.
Chicago Baseball
Ross addressed the flurry of comments surrounding his connection to the players and team saying "never had a problem dishing out a lot of tough love as their teammate, and that won't change as their manager."
"We'll have our fair share of fun along the way," his statement read. "But working hard as a team, playing fundamental team baseball and winning a lot of games will be our top priorities."
Read his full statement below.
"I'm honored by this opportunity to be the next manager of the Chicago Cubs. My time with this organization has been special since the day I joined, so to continue with the club in this role is a blessing for which I'm so very thankful. We have accomplished so much together since 2015, and my desire to lead this organization to another World Series championship could not be any stronger.
A lot has been made, and rightfully so, of my connection to the 2016 World Series team, and the notion that I'll now be managing the players I once counted on as teammates," he said in a statement. "Having those relationships going into this will be a bonus, no doubt about it. But those guys know I'll be the first to hold them accountable, the first to demand their best daily effort and the first to let them know about it if they give anything but their best. I never had a problem dishing out a lot of tough love as their teammate, and that won't change as their manager," Ross said in a statement Thursday. "We'll have our fair share of fun along the way, but working hard as a team, playing fundamental team baseball and winning a lot of games will be out top priorities.
There will be people I want to thank on Monday, but for today I'd especially like to thank my family and two of my mentors, Bobby Cox and Joe Maddon for their guidance and support throughout the years. I'd also like to thank the Ricketts family, Theo Epstein, Jed Hoyer and the Cubs for this opportunity of a lifetime. Now let's get to work."
