While the White Sox and reports continue to claim their list of managerial candidates is shrinking, this afternoon, James Fegan and Josh Nelson at Sox Machine revealed two new candidate names who are tied to the still-ongoing search:
- Rangers bench coach and offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker
- Dodgers bench coach Danny Lehmann
This follows reports that the White Sox have informed some candidates that they are no longer considered for the opening. The team is still hoping to make a hire by the end of October, though interest in assistants from teams still in the league’s Championship Series has delayed some formal interviews.
Now, these candidates might not necessarily be *new* – rather, this is simply the first time we are hearing of them publicly. Both would be first-time managers, with both also coming from recently successful organizations while currently being in uniform. So, it appears that Chris Getz is staying true to his word of what his ideal managerial candidate is going to look like.
Ecker, 38, has served as both the bench coach and offensive coordinator for the Rangers since the 2022 season. Before his time in Texas, he spent two seasons as the hitting coach of the San Francisco Giants and the 2019 season as an assistant hitting coach with the Cincinnati Reds. The former 22nd-round draft pick of the Rangers (2007) also has experience in the player development department with the St. Louis Cardinals.
His role with the Rangers has included some of the traditional bench coach duties, along with implementing a “top-down” hitting program from the big leagues down throughout the minor leagues. Ecker’s deep-hitting background should appeal to the White Sox, given their historic hitting development woes, both at the major league and minor league levels. A new voice with his experience would be welcomed – he could likely also play a role in developing a “Hitting Coordinator” role with the club, similar to what Brian Bannister has done with pitching.
Lehmann, 39, is not the only Dodgers coach on this list. He is joined by current first base coach Clayton McCullough, though both of their interviews are likely delayed by the Dodgers’ ongoing postseason run. Lehmann was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the eighth round of the 2007 MLB Draft out of Rice University and played in their farm system until 2013.
After his playing career ended, Lehman joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2015 as their Advance Video Scout and stayed in that role for three years. In 2018, the Dodgers promoted him to Game Planning and Communications coach. He served as a Dodgers’ special assistant in 2019. Lehmann resumed his Game Planning and Communications coaching position in 2020. In 2023, he was promoted to bench coach.
The known list of names from recent reports has reached ten, though it’s likely other coaches are in the running as well:
- Former Marlins manager Skip Schumaker
- Dodgers first base coach Clayton McCullough
- Former Mets skipper Buck Showalter
- Former Angels manager Phil Nevin
- Cardinals bench coach Will Venable
- Rangers associate manager Daniel Descalso
- Tigers bench coach George Lombard
- Padres special assistant to major league staff and baseball operations A.J. Ellis
- Rangers bench coach and offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker
- Dodgers bench coach Danny Lehmann
This list represents quite a large breadth of experience, though almost all names are either currently in the dugout in some role, a former MLB player, or both. Under MLB guidelines, the White Sox can ask permission to speak with candidates who are currently working for playoff teams and then interview them later this month. As Nelson and Fegan reported, it appears that some formal interviews have yet to take place, which could delay this process slightly depending on the outcome of the playoffs.
With the search intensifying, we will be watching for any future developments. Follow us on social media @SoxOn35th for more updates!
Featured Photo: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports
