The managerial candidates continue to dwindle.
ESPN’s Jesse Rogers reported on Sunday that Dodgers first base coach Clayton McCullough and Padres special assistant A.J. Ellis are both out of the running in the White Sox’s search. McCullough was once touted as a “leading candidate” by 670 The Score’s Bruce Levine, making this a rather big development.
McCullough, 44, was drafted by the Cleveland Guardians in 2002 after attending East Carolina University. He only spent a few seasons in professional baseball before transitioning to his post-playing career, starting as a volunteer assistant coach for his alma mater. From there, McCullough worked his way up by serving as a manager for the Blue Jays’ rookie and A-ball affiliates from 2007-2014, during which his teams compiled a 629-559 record.
The former catching product then began his time in the Dodgers’ organization, serving in various roles over his first seven seasons, including a stint as the team’s minor league field coordinator. McCullough also spent 2020 overseeing the team’s alternate site at the University of Southern California during the COVID season. He became the team’s first base coach before the 2021 season and has remained in that role to this day.
Last offseason, McCullough reportedly interviewed for the Cleveland Guardians job that ultimately went to Stephen Vogt. He was also considered for other openings before the 2023 season, including with the Mets and the Royals. Recent rumblings have linked him to the Marlins current openings and it’s believed that he has interviewed with them as well.
Ellis, 43, is a former big league catcher for the Dodgers, Phillies, Marlins, and Padres. An 18th-round draft pick back in 2003, Ellis has been working for the Padres since 2019, when he joined the front office as a special assistant to the baseball operations department. In 2024, he assumed a role that saw him interact with the MLB team and minor league affiliates as an assistant.
MLB insider Jon Heyman reports that Ellis voluntarily dropped out of the running due to family reasons. He reportedly said he was “grateful” for the interest and had high praise for the White Sox front office.
With both Ellis and McCullough out of the running, the focus now shifts to the recently revealed leading candidates. Heyman said Rangers bench coach Will Venable, Tigers bench coach George Lombard, and former Angels manager Phil Nevin are of particular interest. He also noted that Venable is a guy who Chris Getz has always liked, making him a name to continue watching closely out of the trio.
With the White Sox getting close to making a hire, we’ll be monitoring the situation for any further developments. Look for an official announcement to be coming by the end of this week.
Follow us on social media @SoxOn35th for more updates!
Featured Photo: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
