The Chicago White Sox announced the hiring of Will Venable as their new manager, as the team seeks to reverse their fortunes following a challenging season. This information was confirmed by two individuals familiar with the decision, who spoke on the condition of anonymity until the official announcement is made by the organization.
Venable, who celebrated his 42nd birthday on Tuesday, replaces Pedro Grifol, who was let go in August after the White Sox faced a record-breaking number of losses in a season. Under interim manager Grady Sizemore, the team concluded the year with a disappointing 41-121 record.
Previously, Venable served as an associate manager for the Texas Rangers over the last two years, where he was involved in daily scheduling and provided guidance for outfield play. Notably, the Rangers clinched the World Series title in 2023 during his tenure.
A well-rounded athlete, Venable participated in both baseball and basketball while pursuing a degree in anthropology at Princeton, showing his prowess by earning all-Ivy League honors in both sports. He was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the seventh round of the 2005 amateur draft and had a nine-year Major League Baseball career. Venable played for the Padres, Rangers, and Dodgers, posting a batting average of .249 with 81 home runs, 307 RBIs, and 135 stolen bases across 967 games.
After retiring from playing, Venable joined the Chicago Cubs’ front office in September 2017 as a special assistant in baseball operations. He spent three years on the major league staff, taking on roles as the first base coach for two seasons and serving one season as the third base coach. Additionally, he worked as the bench coach for Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora for two years before moving to the Rangers.
Venable hails from an athletic lineage; his father, Max, played parts of 12 seasons in the majors and also held roles as a minor league manager and coach. His brother, Winston, pursued college football at Boise State and had a brief stint with the Chicago Bears in 2011, appearing in 12 games.