White Sox to hire Will Venable as next manager
The White Sox will name Will Venable as their next manager, the Sun-Times confirmed late Tuesday.
Venable, who turned 42 on Tuesday, is a Princeton grad who played nine seasons in the majors and was named a special assistant to Cubs president Theo Epstein in 2017. He was the Cubs’ first-base coach in 2018-19 and third-base coach in 2020.
Venable was the Red Sox’ bench coach in 2020-22 and associate manager to Rangers skipper Bruch Bochy during the team’s World Series championship season in 2023 and this season.
Venable replaces Grady Sizemore, who posted a 13-32 record as the Sox’ interim manager after Pedro Grifol was fired in his second season as the team sunk to a record 121 losses. Sizemore, Phil Nevin and Craig Albernaz were among the finalists for the position.
It’s the first managerial hire for general manager Chris Getz, who took over as the Sox’ top decision-maker after vice president Ken Williams and GM Rick Hahn were fired during the 2023 season, when the Sox lost 101 games.
Venable becomes the 44th manager in franchise history.
He turned down an offer to interview for the Mets’ job a year ago after his first season alongside Bochy, and he was expected to interview for the Marlins’ job this week, the only other managerial opening.
Before he got into coaching, Venable played for the Padres, Rangers and Dodgers from 2008 to ’16. Primarily an outfielder, he batted .249 with 81 home runs and 307 RBI.
At least 11 candidates were connected to Getz’s list of possibilities: Sizemore, Guardians bench coach Albernaz, Cardinals bench coach Daniel Descalso, Rangers bench coach Donnie Ecker, Padres special assistant A.J. Ellis, Dodgers bench coach Danny Lehmann, Tigers bench coach George Lombard, Dodgers first-base coach Clayton McCullough, former Angels manager Nevin, former Orioles, Rangers, Diamondbacks, Yankees and Mets manager Buck Showalter and former Marlins manager Skip Schumaker.
“It’s going to be a thorough interview process, so every candidate’s obviously going to be different based on personality and résumé,” Getz said after the season.
“We’re going to go out there, we’re going to find the right fit.”
Sizemore, who was popular with players in his first season as coach and during his time in the manager’s seat, is under contract for next season and is expected to remain on the Sox’ coaching staff.