Cubs announce Ross' 2021 coaching staff originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The Cubs announced David Ross' 2021 coaching staff on Wednesday, featuring new additions in Willie Harris and Chris Valaika.
Harris, 42, takes over as third base coach for Will Venable, whom the Red Sox named their bench coach last month after three seasons on the Cubs' staff. He spent 2020 as the Reds minor league outfield and baserunning coordinator.
Valaika, 35, is the new assistant hitting coach, replacing Terrmel Sledge. Valaika is entering his fifth season as a coach in the Cubs organization, having served as minor league hitting coordinator the past two seasons.
The Cubs parted ways with Sledge in October after two seasons.
The rest of the Cubs' 2020 coaching staff will return next season, outside of staff assistant Franklin Font. Font recently was named manager of the Aigles team in France of a new independent league in Europe, the ESBL (European Super League of Professional Baseball).
The Cubs offered Font a minor league role for next season.
A full look at next season's coaching staff under Ross:
Bench coach: Andy Green
Pitching coach: Tommy Hottovy
Associate pitching, catching and strategy coach: Mike Borzello
Hitting coach: Anthony Iapoce
Assistant hitting coach: Chris Valaika
First base/catching coach: Craig Driver
Third base coach: Willie Harris
Bullpen coach: Chris Young
Bullpen catcher: Chad Noble
Quality assurance coach: Mike Napoli
Staff assistant: Juan Cabreja
Senior director of major league data and development: Kyle Evans