Will Venable Takes Helm as Chicago White Sox Manager

baseball news

Chicago White Sox have made headlines once more by unveiling Will Venable as their new manager, sparking excitement among both fans and players alike. His appointment on Tuesday evening caused great buzz throughout their organization.

Transitioning from Player to Manager

At 42 years old, Venable brings to his position both extensive playing experience and management knowledge of baseball. After nine seasons as an MLB player and retiring shortly afterwards in 2017, Venable joined the Chicago Cubs as special assistant before transitioning to base coach between 2018-20.

He served as the bench coach for Boston in 2021 before moving to the Texas Rangers, further honing his managerial abilities under the guidance of Bruce Bochy for two seasons.

A Look at Venable’s Playing Years

Venable had a commendable playing career, mainly with the San Diego Padres, and was traded to the Rangers in 2015. He also played briefly for the Dodgers in 2016. Over his 967 games as an outfielder, he maintained a .249 batting average and secured 81 home runs.

The Challenge Ahead for Venable

Stepping into the managerial position, Venable faces the task of revitalizing the White Sox following their departure from previous manager Pedro Grifol and a challenging season that ended in 121 losses. This downturn follows the team’s division win in 2021 and a subsequent 101-loss season in 2022, which resulted in significant changes in the organization’s leadership.

Chris Getz, a former player for the White Sox, has taken over as the head of the baseball department under owner Jerry Reinsdorf and notably chose Venable as his first managerial hire. This decision places Venable as the 42nd manager in the history of the team.

Venable’s Selection Process

Venable was selected after conducting an intensive search that yielded several highly qualified candidates. Players provided input during this evaluation process as the organization considered each potential impactful candidate’s impact on future team plans.

With Venable at their helm, the White Sox have begun an exciting new era, looking ahead to rebuild and return stronger in coming seasons.