Will Venable Named Chicago White Sox Manager

• Will Venable named new manager for Chicago White Sox.

• White Sox set modern MLB record for most losses in previous season.

• Venable takes over from Pedro Grifol after difficult season.

This is a 2024 photo of associate manager Will Venable of the Texas Rangers baseball team. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

AP

Will Venable has been appointed as the new manager for the Chicago White Sox, following their challenging season where they set a modern major league record for most losses. The announcement was made shortly after the conclusion of the World Series. Venable expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity, highlighting the positive direction the White Sox organization is heading in and the foundation being laid for future success.

Venable, who recently turned 42, takes over from Pedro Grifol, who was relieved of his duties in August. The team had a difficult season, finishing with a 41-121 record under interim manager Grady Sizemore.

Prior to joining the White Sox, Venable served as an associate manager for the Texas Rangers for two years, contributing to their World Series victory in 2023. He emphasized the importance of hard work and baseball intelligence in players, aiming to deliver the winning baseball that White Sox fans expect and deserve.

With a background in both baseball and basketball, Venable excelled academically at Princeton, where he was an all-Ivy League performer in both sports. He was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2005 and went on to have a successful nine-year career in the majors, playing for the Padres, Rangers, and Dodgers.

Following his playing career, Venable transitioned to a role in the front office of the Chicago Cubs in 2017 before moving on to coaching positions with the team and the Boston Red Sox. His diverse experience in various aspects of the game has earned him a strong reputation within baseball.

White Sox general manager Chris Getz praised Venable as a top managerial candidate and expressed excitement about bringing him on board. Venable hails from a sports-oriented family, with his father having a lengthy career in the majors and his brother playing college football and briefly in the NFL.