Cubs Announce Structural Changes to Player Development Staff
By Chris Russo
In an offseason where the Chicago Cubs have already fired their manager, they will now make changes in their player development department as well.
The Cubs will not only be changing their staff within the department, but will oversee a complete overhaul.
The Cubs announce a new structure for player development with Craig Breslow as the new director of pitching and Justin Stone as the new director of hitting.
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) October 17, 2019
The most notable moves are hiring Craig Breslow as their pitching director and Justin Stone as their hitting director.
Breslow was a major league reliever for 12 years and was a World Champion with the Boston Red Sox. He had served as the Cubs' Director of Strategic Initiatives for Baseball Operations since January, and is responsible for managing the minor league pitching system.
Justin Stone has worked with Mike Tauchman among others, Craig Breslow is a great director of pitching imo. Here’s the news. https://t.co/jJxYDLZOm6
— Eno Sarris (@enosarris) October 17, 2019
Stone is responsible for doing the same with minor league hitting. He was the general manager of the Chicago White Sox Training Academy for over a decade, coached three years at Indiana State and founded a technologically-focused company that teaches baseball and softball. That seems perfect for Theo Epstein's new-age baseball mentality.
Though the promotions of Breslow and Stone likely have the highest profiles, the Cubs have also made other significant hirings and promotions.
Amid other changes within the Cubs' front office, Matt Dorey, the amateur scouting director, has been elevated to senior vice president of player development. Bobby Basham is the new farm director with Jeremy Farrell named assistant director of baseball development.
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) October 17, 2019
As for the on-field management, the Cubs have yet to hire former manager Joe Maddon's replacement, but are getting closer to finding one.