Following in the footsteps of Frank Catalanotto, recipient of the last year’s Achievement Award, Chicago Cubs hitting coach Anthony Iapoce has been named as the 2020 IABF Achievement Award Honoree. With over 27 years of combined professional baseball experience as a player and coach, Anthony Iapoce has made a positive impact on the careers and lives of countless individuals who have credited him as a major reason for their success.
Anthony Iapoce was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 33rd round of the 1994 MLB Amateur Draft and worked all the way up to Triple-A Indianapolis in 2000. A top outfield prospect who eventually made the spring training roster but was plagued by a broken hand sliding head first, Anthony Iapoce got a second chance in the Florida Marlins organization before finding stardom playing Indy ball. He led the Gary SouthShore RailCats to the 2005 Northern Independent League Championship and was later crowned Northern League Championship Series MVP. He played a total of eleven years in the minor leagues and was a part of three championships as a professional player.
Anthony Iapoce began his coaching career in 2006 as the hitting coach for the Jamestown (NY) Jammers, a Florida Marlins Single-A affiliate. He worked within the Marlins organization for three years before accepting the Hitting Coordinator position for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2009. Anthony Iapoce remained in that role until he became the Chicago Cubs Special Assistant to the GM/Player Development and oversaw the Cubs' Minor League hitting program from 2012 to 2015. He became the Texas Rangers Hitting Coach in 2016 when the team claimed the American League West Division Championship title with 95 wins. Anthony Iapoce received a World Series ring in 2017 from the Chicago Cubs organization for his invaluable contribution in molding minor league players into major league stars prior to heading south to the Ballpark at Arlington in Texas for a three-year coaching stint.
Anthony Iapoce became the Chicago Cubs hitting coach in 2019 and remains in that capacity to this day. He has a long history with many of the Cubs' sluggers way back from their minor-league days. In fact, Anthony Iapoce is credited for the strong 2019 comebacks by Willson Contreras, Kyle Schwarber and Kris Bryant. Anthony Iapoce and Mike Napoli were recently interviewed by Chris Colabello and Natalie Spedaliere for a special episode of the broadcast. To listen to the interview, click . Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
