Cubs make it through 2-week COVID-19 scare originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The Cubs coaching staff is back at full strength.
Manager David Ross said Wednesday bullpen coach Chris Young is back with the club, one day after first base coach Craig Driver returned. Both were away from the team after testing positive for COVID-19.
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"It is really nice to have those guys back," Ross said of Driver and Young.
The Cubs spent the past two weeks taking precautions after Driver and Young tested positive. On April 12, they placed relievers Jason Adam, Dan Winkler and Brandon Workman on the COVID-19 related IL. Matt Duffy landed on the list a day later.
Kyle Hendricks was scratched from his start last week after feeling unwell, and David Bote was scratched from Tuesday's lineup with an upset stomach.
None of the six players tested positive and all have since returned to the field. Hendricks started Sunday against Atlanta and Bote is in Wednesday's starting lineup against the Mets.
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The Cubs have operated with a thin coaching staff recently without Driver and Young, as well as Ross and Mike Borzello, the associate pitching, catching and strategy coach, both of whom were briefly suspended last week.
Ross spoke highly of his coaches picking up the slack. Bench coach Andy Green managed last Friday's game. Quality assurance coach Mike Napoli has acted as first base coach, and bullpen catcher Chad Noble as bullpen coach. Even Alec Mills took on a different role.
"I looked down [Tuesday] night and we're double barreled in the bullpen and Alec Mills was reading the scouting reports to the guys on the mound," Ross said. "That made me laugh pretty good in-game.
"Everybody is picking up the slack and has since those guys have been out."
Ross is glad to see Driver and Young back.
"Those guys are big parts of our success," Ross said. "They do a lot of work that nobody gets to see, and they're huge pieces to this team."
