Will Venable Named New Manager of the Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox have confirmed that Will Venable will be their new manager, according to a source reported by MLB.com. This announcement comes on the heels of Venable’s 42nd birthday, marking a significant milestone in his career. Venable will become the 44th manager in the franchise’s history, replacing interim manager Grady Sizemore who took over after Pedro Grifol was let go on August 8, 2024.

Venable brings a wealth of experience to the role, having served as the associate manager to Bruce Bochy with the Texas Rangers for the past two years. During his tenure with the Rangers, the team won the World Series title in 2023. Prior to his time with the Rangers, Venable worked as the bench coach for the Boston Red Sox during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He also has ties to the Chicago baseball scene, having been a special assistant to Cubs president Theo Epstein and serving as both the first-base and third-base coach for the Cubs in 2018-2019 and 2020, respectively.

The White Sox are in the midst of a rebuild after a dismal 2024 season, setting the single-season Modern Era record with 121 losses. General Manager Chris Getz and his staff conducted a comprehensive search for a manager who shared their vision for the team’s growth and future success. Venable’s appointment is seen as a key step in this process.

Venable’s hiring follows a managerial search that included several candidates, including Grady Sizemore, who had been interim manager since August. Sizemore’s tenure saw the team go 13-32, following Grifol’s 89-190 record over one-plus seasons at the helm.