The Chicago Cubs will announce today that they have named Minor League pitching coordinator Mark Riggins as their pitching coach, replacing Larry Rothschild, who spurned the Cubs for the Yankees. The Cubs stood by their claim to stay within the organization for their new pitching coach, as it came down to Riggins and bullpen coach Lester Strode.
Before being the Minor League pitching coordinator for the Cubs, Riggins held the same position with the St Louis Cardinals before he came to the Cubs after the 2007 season. He was the pitching coach under Joe Torre and Mike Jorgensen for the Cardinals in 1995.
The 2011 season will mark the first time in nine seasons that someone other than Larry Rothschild has served as the Cubs pitching coach.