John Mallee

By Patrick Mooney

The Cubs hope the revolving-door approach to hitting coaches is about to stop.

After Bill Mueller’s resignation, multiple signs pointed toward Houston Astros hitting coach John Mallee, a Chicago guy with connections to Theo Epstein’s front office and a track record of working with talented young players.

The Cubs made the hire official on Thursday, pairing Mallee with new assistant hitting coach Eric Hinske. Ex-Cub Doug Dascenzo takes over for Hinske as the first-base/outfield coach. Otherwise, manager Rick Renteria’s staff will remain intact next season.

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Mallee spent eight-plus years with the Florida Marlins as their minor-league hitting coordinator before being elevated to major-league hitting coach for parts of the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

For all the reality-show drama and slash-and-burn reactions, the Marlins have created a strong player-development pipeline. The Cubs have repeatedly tried to tap into that by hiring guys who saw second-round pick Mike Stanton evolve into MVP candidate Giancarlo Stanton.

Mallee went to Mount Carmel High School and got drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies out of the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1991. He played two seasons in the low minors before transitioning to a coaching career.

Here’s the testimonial from Stanton on Mallee’s website, which focuses on clinics and instruction:

“John has been a huge influence on me. I signed at 17 and he helped build my swing and approach into what it is today. He takes your strengths as a hitter and makes them more efficient. He understands the mental game and helped me prepare on a daily basis with my swing mechanics and my approach against that night’s pitcher.”

Cubs officials are sometimes reminded of Stanton when they see Javier Baez, Baseball America’s No. 7 midseason prospect who struck out 95 times during his first 52 games in The Show.

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Mallee also worked extensively with 2009 National League Rookie of the Year Chris Coghlan, who got non-tendered by the Marlins and just put together a strong bounce-back season with the Cubs (.804 OPS).

Mallee inspired enough loyalty inside the clubhouse that Logan Morrison ripped Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria for firing the hitting coach in the middle of the 2011 season.

When asked if ownership made the decision, Morrison told the Miami Herald: “Absolutely. 100 percent. You know it was. I’m sure he’ll tell you that, too.”

“He’s there from day one,” Morrison said of Mallee. “He got me to the big leagues. I was a 22nd-rounder for a reason. I made the big leagues for a reason. And he was in between that time.”

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Cubs bench coach Brandon Hyde spent almost a decade in the Marlins system before coming to Chicago as a minor-league field coordinator and then farm director. Hyde had risen to Marlins bench coach, overlapping with Mallee on the major-league staff.

Within a front office that can sometimes overthink things, Hyde has developed a reputation for being a straight shooter and saying what’s on his mind. He’s been able to slip in and out of uniform and move easily between the front office and the dugout.

The Cubs have already added ex-Marlins Tim Cossins and Anthony Iapoce to their staff. Cossins, the minor-league field/catching coordinator, is giving No. 4 overall pick Kyle Schwarber a crash course in catching during instructional league in Arizona. Iapoce is a special assistant who oversees the minor-league hitting program and also worked with Mallee in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.

The Cubs want everyone to stay on the same message.

Epstein fired hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo in the middle of the 2012 season, preparing for Anthony Rizzo’s call-up from Triple-A Iowa. James Rowson got promoted from minor-league hitting coordinator on an interim basis – and earned the job – but couldn’t survive 96 losses and another staff shakeup last year.

Ex-manager Dale Sveum wanted to put his stamp on the hitting program and also hired his buddy, Rob Deer, as an assistant for the 2013 season. Mueller resigned after he found out his close friend, Mike Brumley, wouldn’t be invited back as the assistant hitting coach next year.

[MORE – Bill Mueller out as Cubs hitting coach]

The Cubs have had too many voices, but the Astros are in flux after firing manager Bo Porter and hiring A.J. Hinch, who last year interviewed for the Cubs job that went to Renteria.

The Astros have dealt with an avalanche of bad press, from passing on Kris Bryant to draft Mark Appel last year, to “Ground Control” getting hacked and private trade talks leaking out, to failing to sign No. 1 overall pick Brady Aiken. Rivals couldn’t believe the access the Astros gave Sports Illustrated for a cover story that called them “Your 2017 World Series Champs.”

But Mallee can point to Jose Altuve, who just knocked out 225 hits and won an American League batting title (.341) during his age-24 season. Mega-prospect George Springer debuted and generated 20 homers and 51 RBI in his first 78 games. Chris Carter has blasted 66 homers across the last two seasons.

Hitting coach might be the hardest job in baseball. It’s typically a take-zero-credit, get-all-the-blame setup. The Cubs wanted an established guy and Mallee checks a lot of their boxes.

“It’s a dream come true,” Mallee told the Houston media. “I grew up a Cubs fan and always dreamed of standing on the field and representing this amazing franchise.

“I have been in professional baseball as a player or coach for more than 20 years and have never had an opportunity to see my family during the season until now. Leaving the Houston Astros is the toughest decision I’ve ever had to make.

“I wish my Houston family the best of luck (and) hope they can understand and respect that I had to make the best decision for my family.”