Jeff Pentland
Chicago Cubs Batting Coach

An understanding of the "biomechanics" of hitting, coupled with years of experience has made Jeff Pentland into one of the finest hittng instructors in the game today.

Chicago Cubs Major League Hitting Instructor Jeff Pentland is considered to be one of the best hitting instructors in professional baseball. Credited by most with harnessing the potential of “Sammy Sosa”, Jeff transformed Sosa into not only one the games most prolific power hitters, but one who can hit for average and drive in runs as well.

Jeff received both his bachelor’s and master’s degree from Arizona State University. At ASU, his degrees consisted of a concentration in “biomechanics” which contributed to his background knowledge of the “physics side” of hitting. After spending the 1973-74 school year as an assistant athletic director at Wichita State University, he served as assistant baseball coach at University of California-Riverside for 9 years, where they won 2 national championships while he was there. Jeff returned to ASU to become hitting coach in 1983, where he helped develop major league hitters, Barry Bonds, Mike Devereaux, Pat Listach, Fernando Vina, and Ken Landreaux.

Jeff entered the professional ranks in the Florida Marlins Organization in 1992 as a scout. He became hitting coach for Elmira(A) in 1993-94, and later became hitting coach for Portland, ME (AA) from 1995 until his promotion to the majors. Jeff was promoted to the Marlins Major League Hitting Instructor for the second half of the 1996 season. He was the Mets' Minor League Hitting Coordinator for 1997 season.

After the leaving the Mets, Jeff became the Cubs Major League Hitting Instructor, where is now is currently employed. The OHA is proud to welcome Jeff Pentland with his years of experience and instruction as one of the feature baseball writers.