Craig Driver (born September 21, 1988) is an American professional baseball coach who most recently was the game strategy and catching coach for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB).
| Craig Driver | |
|---|---|
| Coach | |
| Born: September 21, 1988 Seattle, Washington, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| Teams | |
| As coach |
Career
editDriver attended Nathan Hale High School in Seattle, Washington, where he played baseball and basketball for the Raiders.[1] Driver played four years of college baseball as a catcher; first at Columbia Basin College for one year, and then at the University of Puget Sound for his final three years.[2][3]
Driver began his coaching career at the University of Puget Sound, serving as a catching coach, first base coach, and recruiter for the 2011–2012 season.[3] Driver spent the 2012–2013 and 2013–2014 seasons at Central Washington University as a graduate assistant coach.[4] He returned to Puget Sound for the 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 seasons as the athletic recruitment coordinator and head assistant coach.[2] Driver then spent the 2016–2017 season at Yale University, serving as their catching coach.[2]
Driver began his professional coaching career with the Philadelphia Phillies, serving as their bullpen catcher and receiving coach in 2018 and 2019.[5][6]
Driver was hired by the Chicago Cubs as their first base and catching coach prior to the 2020 season.[7]
Driver currently works in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization as a catching and bullpen coach.
Personal life
editDriver graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a degree in business and a minor in mathematics, and completed a master's degree in athletic administration at Central Washington University.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Craig Driver bio". Puget Sound Loggers baseball. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ a b c Bill Gallagher (January 30, 2018). "Driver hired by Phillies". Yale Daily News. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ a b c "Craig Driver bio". Yale Bulldogs baseball. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "CWU Hall of Famers Wilson, Hippi Join Baseball Staff for 2013 Season". Central Washington Wildcats. January 1, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ Matt Gelb (February 16, 2018). "Inside the Phillies' catching laboratory: Revamped program in search of the winning edge". The Athletic. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ Matt Gelb (February 16, 2019). "How does one of the best catchers in baseball improve? For J.T. Realmuto, it begins with an open mind". The Athletic. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ Paul Sullivan (December 1, 2019). "Cubs bring in Craig Driver as first-base and catching coach to round out David Ross' staff". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 1, 2019.