Mallee goes from Martinsville to World Series
Mallee goes from Martinsville to World Series
By CARA COOPER Bulletin Sports Writer – November 1, 2016
Chicago Cub Kris Bryant hits a homerun during Sunday’s Game 5 of the World Series. Much of the Cubs success at the plate is thanks to hitting coach John Mallee, who’s journey to Chicago includes a stop in Martinsville.
It could be considered fate that Cubs hitting coach John Mallee would end up back in Chicago. Mallee was born in the Windy City in 1969, and played college baseball at the University of Illinois-Chicago. While Mallee’s career has gone full circle with him now back in his hometown, the journey there took him across the country, even with a stop in Martinsville.
Mallee was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 12th round of the 1991 draft, and played 39 games for the Martinsville Phillies at Hooker Field when they were a rookie league affiliate of the Phillies in the Appalachian League. The middle infielder collected 32 hits in 157 plate appearances as a Phillie, scoring 15 runs and collecting 14 RBIs and 19 walks.
Even though Mallee’s career as a player lasted just two seasons, he’s become a hot commodity among baseball coaches. He was a minor league hitting coach in the Brewers, Expos, Marlins and Astros organizations before coming to the Cubs as the team’s major league hitting coach in 2014. He has helped build Chicago’s lineup into one of the most feared and potent in Major League Baseball, and could be on his way to his first World Series victory.