John Mallee

by Mark Gonzales

The Chicago Cubs finally can feel good that new hitting coach John Mallee will stay with the organization for the foreseeable future..

President Theo Epstein revealed that Mallee, a Chicago native, joined the Cubs’ organization two years ago, only to get away quickly when presented with a better offer.

“We actually hired him a few years ago to be our minor league hitting coordinator,” Epstein said Friday after talking to a group of season ticket holders. “Then we’re very disappointed four days later when he joined Bo Porter’s staff to be a major league hitting coach.”

Epstein isn’t worried about the constant turnover among Cubs hitting coaches since 2012, from Rudy Jaramillio to James Rowson to Bill Mueller to now Mallee.

“He’s got a great reputation,” Epstein said of Mallee, who has worked with standouts such as Giancarlo Stanton with the Marlins (2010-11) and Jose Altuve with the Astros (2013-14). “He’s got a great reputation. He’s done this job before and done it well. He’s worked with raw young hitters and gotten results. He’s knowledgeable, energetic, a passionate worker who will work well with the rest of our staff and hopefully create some stability with us at the hitting coach position.”

Mallee will work with assistant hitting coach Eric Hinske, whom Epstein believes is better suited in this role than this past season when he coached first base and the outfielders despite a lack of outfield experience.

“(Hinske) is thrilled about it,” Epstein said. “He’s a hitter at heart and loves to teach hitting and talk about approach and how to connect with hitter. He had to learn about the outfield stuff and learn the base running stuff, and it’s hard to teach it while you’re learning.”

Hinske studied Cubs shortstop prospect Addison Russell while sitting next to Epstein during an Arizona Fall League game on Tuesday.

Epstein is familiar with new first base/outfield coach Doug Dascenzo from their days in the San Diego Padres’ organization in the late 1990s, and Dascenzo knows Cubs manager Rick Renteria from their days in the Padres’ organization.

Dascenzo, a former Cubs outfielder, should be instrumental in helping the Cubs’ young outfielders handling the mercurial elements at Wrigley Field.

“(Dascenzo) is very knowledgeable when it comes to playing defense and base running,” Epstein said.

“He’s a worker. He’s not afraid of teaching big league players. He’s not afraid of saying what’s needed to be said.”