Tulsa Drillers hitting coach Terrmel Sledge is returning to the majors as the Chicago Cubs’ assistant hitting coach.
Sledge, 41, was an outfielder in the majors with the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres from 2004-07. He was a teammate of Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish in Japan in 2008-09.
Sledge began his coaching career with the Cubs’ short-season Class A affiliate Eugene (Oregon) in the Northwest League. He spent the past three seasons with Tulsa working with hitters such as Cody Bellinger, Alex Verdugo, top catching prospect Keibert Ruiz and the Drillers’ first-ever batting champion, Matt Beaty. Sledge helped the Drillers set their team home run records in each of the past two seasons and Tulsa won the Texas League pennant this year.
Sledge’s predecessor as Drillers hitting coach, Shawn Wooten, also is returning to the majors as he was promoted to assistant hitting coach by the Los Angeles Angels. He spent last season as an assistant hitting coordinator in the minors. Wooten played for the Angels in 2000-03.