The Cubs will hire Rays minor-league hitting coordinator Greg Brown as their hitting coach, according to reports.
Brown spent the last two seasons in the Tampa Bay organization. He also has served as a scout for the Astros and spent nine seasons as head coach at Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Florida.
Brown, 41, would replace Anthony Iapoce, who left the club at the end of the season. Iapoce had been the Cubs’ hitting coach since October 2018 after he was hired by then-manager Joe Maddon. He stayed in the role when David Ross replaced Maddon after the 2019 season.
The Cubs’ offense has been a point of contention since 2017, and the significant changes to the roster this season affected the team’s performance. The Cubs finished the year ranked 24th in the majors with a .237 average.
They did uncover a couple of potential late bloomers in Frank Schwindel and Patrick Wisdom. Schwindel had a 1.002 OPS in 56 games with the Cubs since being claimed off waivers from the Athletics in July. The 29-year-old earned National League Rookie of the Month honors in August and September. Wisdom, 30, set the team record for home runs by a rookie with 28, breaking Kris Byrant’s mark of 26.
The Cubs have had three hitting coaches since winning the World Series in 2016: John Mallee, Chili Davis and Iapoce.
