David Ross, Manager, Chicago Cubs


Date of Birth: 3/19/1977
Birthplace: Bainbridge, Georgia
College: University of Florida, Auburn University

David Ross, manager of the Chicago Cubs, was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1995 but he opted for college. Three years later, the Dodgers drafted him again and this time he signed with them. He played in the Dodgers' minor league system from 1998 through most of 2003, playing with the Dodgers in 8 games in 2002 and 40 games in 2003. He played in 70 games with the Dodgers in 2004 and he finished with 28 hits and a .170 batting average.

The Dodgers sold Ross' contract to the Pittsburgh Pirates in March, 2005. After just 40 games with the Pirates that season, they traded him to the San Diego Padres. He played in 11 games with the Padres in 2005. The following March, he was traded to his fourth team, the Cincinnati Reds. In 2006, he played in 90 games with the Reds, finishing the season with 63 hits and a .255 batting average.

The 2007 season was the only one in which Ross played in over 100 games. That year, he batted .203 with 63 hits in 112 games. After 52 games with the Reds in 2008, they released him on August 18. Four days later, he signed a minor league contract with the Red Sox. He played in just 8 games with Boston.

In December, 2008, Ross signed a two-year, $3 million contract with the Atlanta Braves. He spent four years with the Braves, serving as the backup catcher to Brian McCann.

Ross signed a two-year, $6.2 million contract with the Boston Red Sox in November, 2012. In 2013, he spent much of the season on the DL with concussion symptoms. In 36 games, he had a .216 batting average. He finished the 2014 season with 28 hits and a .184 batting average in 50 games.

Ross signed a two-year, $5 million contract with the Cubs on December 23, 2014. He finished the 2015 season with 28 hits and a .176 batting average in 72 games. As a catcher in 59 games, he made 36 assists, 397 putouts, and 1 error. He caught players trying to steal 25.8% of the time and he had a .998 fielding percentage. He had no hits in 4 at-bats in 3 postseason games.

At the start of the 2016 season, Ross announced that he would retire at the end of the season. In his last year in the majors, he batted .229 with 38 hits in 67 games. Defensively, as a catcher in 58 games, he made 44 assists, 433 putouts, and 9 errors. He caught players trying to steal 26.9% of the time and he had a .981 fielding percentage. In the postseason, he batted .250 with 4 hits, including a double and 2 home runs, and 4 RBIs in 16 at-bats in 8 games.

Ross was hired as the Cubs manager on October 24, 2019. He was given a three-year contract. He led the Cubs to a first place finish in the 2020 season with 34 wins and 26 losses. They lost the NL Wild Card series to the Miami Marlins in two games.

Career batting statistics for Ross through 2016 include:

  • 883 games played
  • 521 hits
  • 116 doubles
  • 106 home runs
  • 314 RBIs
  • 735 strikeouts to 287 walks
  • .229 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Ross as a catcher through 2016 include:

  • 805 games played
  • 422 assists
  • 5,124 putouts
  • 54 errors
  • .347 caught stealing percentage
  • .990 fielding percentage

Ross was hired as manager of the Cubs on October 24, 2019. He led the Cubs to a first place finish in the NL central division in 2020, with 34 wins and 26 losses.

The Cubs and Ross finished in fourth place in the NL central division race in 2021. They had 71 wins and 91 losses.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - David Ross
ESPN - David Ross