Cubs Hire Craig Driver as Their New First Base Coach
By Ian Anderson
The Chicago Cubs have found their first base coach for next season in a former Philadelphia Phillies coach.
Chicago announced this morning that they had hired Craig Driver to fill that vacant role.
Cubs To Hire Craig Driver As First Base/Catching Coach https://t.co/HzqIjDjRg8 pic.twitter.com/NwD4d3xWmI
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) December 1, 2019
Driver served last season on the Phillies as the bullpen/catching coach in his first ever season coaching professional baseball.
He has only been in the MLB for two seasons, but already has a great reputation for developing catchers, as he helped J.T. Realmuto win a Gold Glove last season.
Chicago was obviously impressed with how Driver performed last season at that position for Philadelphia, as they quickly snagged him and promoted him to the first base and catchers coach for the 2020 MLB season.
The #Cubs are hiring Craig Driver as their new first base and catching coach.
— Cubs Nation (@CubsNationCHI) December 1, 2019
Driver replaces Will Venable, even though Theo Epstein had previously said that Venable would be returning to the Chicago staff next year.
(Via: @ESPNChiCubs) pic.twitter.com/42Juo3ljCO
Driver being hired at the position sparks an interesting question. What will the Cubs do with Will Venable, as Cubs president Theo Epstein previously stated that Venable would be returning to the Cubbies next season?
They could move the former outfielder to a front office job, or keep him on in a different coaching position. One thing is for certain however, Venable certainly will not be the Cubs first base coach come next season.