The Chicago Cubs have hired Rob Deer as a hitting assistant. Deer will help players prepare for games, but will not appear in uniform on the bench.

Deer had been working as a hitting assistant for the San Diego Padres. In 2011, he worked with young slugger Anthony Rizzo, who is now with the Chicago Cubs. Deer joins Mike Borzello and Franklin Font as hitting assistants for the Cubs. In 2012, the Chicago Cubs hit just .240 as a team.

Deer played for the Giants, Brewers, Tigers, Red Sox, and Padres over an 11-year career. He showed enormous power during many of those seasons, but also had a tendency to strike out too often. Between 1986 and 1993, Deer hit at least 20 home runs in every season. In 1987, he struck out 186 times. At the time, only Bobby Bonds had struck out more times in a single season. Remarkably, Deer set his mark in just 134 games. In his career, Deer hit .220 with 230 home runs and 600 RBI.