The Cubs announced the hiring of Rob Deer on Monday. Deer will serve as the team’s assistant hitting coach, a new position on the Cubs’ big league staff. Deer will formally assist hitting coach James Rowson, who was named as the team’s full-time hitting coach in October after taking over for Rudy Jaramillo on an interim basis last June.
Rob Deer previously served as a minor league hitting coach and minor league hitting coordinator in the Padres organization but has been out of baseball for the last four years. Rob Deer rounds out the Cubs’ coaching staff for next season that includes: Chris Bosio (pitching coach), James Rowson (hitting coach) Jamie Quirk (bench coach), Lester Strode (bullpen coach), David Bell (third base coach), Dave McKay (first base coach), Franklin Font and Mike Borzello.
Rob Deer and Dale Sveum were teammates in Milwaukee (1986-1990) and the 52-year old played 11 seasons in the big leagues from 1984-1993 and 1996 for the Giants, Brewers, Tigers, Red Sox and Padres.
Among Franklin Font’s duties last season was assisting Rudy Jaramillo at the beginning of the season. The Cubs joined teams such as the Cardinals, Padres, Phillies, Braves and Dodgers that employee full-time assistant hitting coaches.
According to a report from Bruce Levine, Rob Deer is already working with the players. Dale Sveum, James Rowson, David Bell and Deer were at the Cubs’ complex in Mesa working on hitting and conditioning with Brett Jackson and Darwin Barney.
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