Former Braves catcher David Ross, who retired after the 2016 season, has joined the Cubs as a special assistant to the baseball operations staff, the Cubs announced Friday.
Ross was a key player last season as the Cubs won their first World Series since 1908.
According to Cash Kruth of the Cub’s MLB web site, Ross will “contribute to all elements within the club’s baseball operations department, including major league operations, player development, pro scouting and work within the front office. He’ll also assist in evaluating amateur players leading up to the draft.”
Ross, 39, played 15 seasons in the big leagues, including four for the Braves, from 2009-12. He played for seven major league teams. His final two seasons were spent with the Cubs.
While with the Braves, Ross played in 227 games and hit .269 with 24 home runs and 94 RBIs. He was considered one of the key leaders in the Braves’ clubhouse and was a wildly popular player with Cubs fans and teammates.
He long has been mentioned as someone likely headed for a major league front office or managerial role.
Ross was born in Bainbridge and graduated from high school in Tallahassee, Fla. He played college baseball at Auburn in 1996 and 1997 and at Florida in 1998. He was drafted by the Dodgers in the seventh round in 1998.
