Cubs introduce new manager David Ross

Former Cubs catcher David Ross was introduced as the team’s 55th manager in franchise history on Monday.

Ross, 42, who has been an ESPN analyst and special assistant with the Cubs since retiring after the 2016 World Series, will be the team’s youngest manager since Jim Riggleman was hired a couple of weeks before his 42nd birthday in 1994.

Ross has not been a manager at any level and has no coaching experience.

Here are highlights from his introductory news conference Monday at the Cubs headquarters:

• Team president Theo Epstein praised Ross had natural gifts as a player to connect and motivate his teammates.
• “I’m so excited to start this process of winning, can’t wait,” Ross said.
• “I’ve had an eye on this my entire career,” Ross said. “I’ve been apart of a lot of winning teams, I know what winning looks like. I know what I’ll expect out of my players along with myself.”
• David Ross said he knows he’s ready for this opportunity to be a manager.

• Ross said there’s a misconception of the “fun-loving Grandpa Rossy,” which he “loves.” But he’s never been shy of having difficult conversations in the dugout. He also reiterated that the Grandpa Rossy narrative is “overblown.”

• Ross on what he’s taken away from Joe Maddon: “I’m going to take a lot of [Maddon’s] managerial style. ... I think Joe did a phenomenal job when he was here. I’m going to put my own stamp on it, but I’m not sure what they’ll look like yet. ... I’m excited to put my stamp on this team.”
• Ross said he’ll leave the personnel decisions to the front office.
• Asked if there will be any changes to his coaching staff, Ross said: “I have not started that process yet. I’ve sent some texts to the coaches. ... I’ll know more on that going forward.”
• Asked how he’ll balance moving beyond 2016 despite him being a key ingredient to that team, Ross said it starts with accountability. Epstein added that he believes Ross will help establish a new voice and a new direction.