CHICAGO — The Cubs hired former major league infielder Mark Loretta as their bench coach Wednesday, replacing Brandon Hyde, who was hired as the manager of the Baltimore Orioles last month.
Loretta, 47, had spent the past nine years in the front office of the San Diego Padres. He’ll be manager Joe Maddon’s bench coach — the Cubs’ third in as many years — for the final year of his current contract.
The Cubs also hired former pitcher Bob Tewksbury as the team’s mental skills coordinator. Tewksbury served a similar role with the San Francisco Giants the past two seasons, as well as working for the Boston Red Sox for a decade when Cubs president Theo Epstein was there as general manager.
Loretta also spent time in Boston under Epstein during his playing days.
The hirings complete a busy offseason in the coaching department for the Cubs, who also have a new pitching and hitting coach for the third time in three seasons .