Chicago Cubs: Four choices to serve as David Ross’ bench coach

With David Ross officially at the helm, the Chicago Cubs will now turn their attention to rounding out the coaching staff – including Ross’ right-hand man.

A new era dawns on the North Side of Chicago. David Ross, who was introduced as the 55th manager in Chicago Cubs history on Monday at Wrigley Field, is set to lead the franchise out of the shadow of its first World Series in over a century into what we all hope will be more sustained winning.

Chicago inked Ross to a three-year deal with a team option for 2024, believing he fit what the team needed to maximize what’s left of what appears to be a quickly-closing competitive window. Speaking with the media during Monday’s press conference, there were no decisions announced on the coaching staff that will surround Ross – but it was clear that’s a chief focus for the new manager and the Cubs front office.

"“The in-game stuff is going to take me a minute,” Ross said. “It’s going to be important that my bench coach is one step ahead of me until I get that feel back. I’ve sat in the dugout. I’ve managed from my seat as a player. But doing it, calling the shots, being one step ahead and being aware of the bullpen, all of those things are going to be a learned task.”"

What does all this mean? You can expect Ross’ bench coach to come with plenty of experience – either as a bench coach or even as a former big league manager. He’s going to learn hard on this person initially, as he learns the ropes and transitions from player to skipper.

Here’s a list of potential candidates to keep in mind moving forward.