CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today named David Ross the 55th manager in franchise history, agreeing to terms on a three-year contract through the 2022 season with a club option for the 2023 campaign. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Ross will be formally introduced at a press conference on Monday, October 28.

A veteran of 15 major league seasons as a catcher and a two-time World Series champion, Ross retired after the 2016 season and has spent the last three seasons in the Cubs front office as a special assistant to baseball operations. He has also spent the last three years working as a major league analyst for ESPN, providing commentary and opinion on a variety of platforms, including studio and in-game broadcast booth assignments. Ross, 42, is the youngest Cubs manager since 42-year-old Jim Riggleman took charge in 1995. Ross turns 43 on March 19.

During his big league career, Ross played for seven different clubs and counted one Hall of Famer and five World Series winning managers among his mentors, including Hall of Famer and World Champion Bobby Cox plus World Champion managers Bruce Bochy, John Farrell, Terry Francona and Joe Maddon. Overall, six of Ross’ former managers have combined to win 14 Manager of the Year awards during their respective careers: Bobby Cox (four), Joe Maddon (three), Dusty Baker (three), Terry Francona (two), Bruce Bochy (one) and Jim Tracy (one).

Ross advanced to the postseason seven times during his major league career with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2002-04), Pittsburgh Pirates (2005), San Diego Padres (2005), Cincinnati Reds (2006-08), Boston Red Sox (2008, 2013-14), Atlanta Braves (2009-12) and Cubs (2015-16). He played in 883 regular season games and in 25 playoff contests, winning the World Series in 2013 with Boston and in 2016 with the Cubs, ending his playing career with a home run in Game 7 of the World Series. He was a career .229 hitter (521-for-2,280) with 106 home runs and 314 RBI in the regular season.

In his Cubs front office role, Ross contributed to all elements within the club’s baseball operations department, including major league operations, player development, pro scouting and front office work. He also assisted in evaluating amateur players leading up to the draft among additional responsibilities throughout the year.

Ross was originally selected by the Dodgers in the seventh round of the 1998 June Draft out of the University of Florida, whom he helped lead to the College World Series in his lone season as a Gator. Ross was also a member of the 1997 Auburn Tigers club that advanced to the College World Series.