After much speculation over the past month regarding the White Sox’ coaching staff heading into 2023, the team has finally made new manager Pedro Grifol’s staff official – and it includes a lot of turnover.
Here is what the staff looks like:
- Manager: Pedro Grifol
- Bench Coach: Charlie Montoyo
- Pitching Coach: Ethan Katz
- Bullpen Coach: Curt Hasler
- Hitting Coach: José Castro
- Assistant Hitting Coach: Chris Johnson
- First Base Coach: Daryl Boston
- Third Base Coach: Eddie Rodríguez
- Major League Field Coordinator: Mike Tosar
- Senior Director of Sports Performance: Geoff Head
Given what the White Sox had mentioned above overhauling their staff, it should come as no surprise that Katz, Hasler, and Boston are the only carryovers from the previous staff. Tosar and Rodríguez have joined new manager Pedro Grifol from Kansas City.
Here is a breakdown of the turnover on the staff, with new coaches/positions italicized:
| Position | 2023 Coach | 2022 Coach |
|---|---|---|
| Manager | Pedro Grifol | Tony La Russa |
| Bench Coach | Charlie Montoyo | Miguel Cairo |
| Hitting Coach | José Castro | Frank Menechino |
| Assistant Hitting Coach | Chris Johnson | Howie Clark |
| Pitching Coach | Ethan Katz | Ethan Katz |
| Bullpen Coach | Curt Hasler | Curt Hasler |
| First Base Coach | Daryl Boston | Daryl Boston |
| Third Base Coach | Eddie Rodríguez | Joe McEwing |
| Analytics Coordinator | N/A | Shelley Duncan |
| Major League Instructor | N/A | Jerry Narron |
| Bullpen Catchers | Miguel Gonzalez, Luis Sierra | Miguel Gonzalez, Luis Sierra |
| Major League Field Coordinator | Mike Tosar | N/A |
| Senior Director of Sports Performance | Geoff Head | N/A |
The White Sox’ press release included write-ups on each of the individuals on the coaching staff. At this point, fans are most familiar with Grifol and Montoyo, as they had previously been announced. Fans may also be familiar with Chris Johnson, who was the AAA Hitting Coach last season for the White Sox and has been praised by several players for his work within the organization.
Here are the write-ups the White Sox offered on Castro (former Braves Assistant Hitting Coach), Rodríguez (former Royals MiLB Field Coordinator), and Tosar (former Royals Special Assignment Hitting Coach):
Castro, 64, enters his first season as a major-league hitting coach after serving as the assistant hitting coach with the Atlanta Braves for the last eight years. He was part of the Braves coaching staff that won the World Series in 2021. A native of La Habana, Cuba, Castro has nine years of coaching experience in the majors (2015–22 with Atlanta and 2014 with the Chicago Cubs, as quality assurance coach). He also served as the interim hitting coach with the Seattle Mariners in 2008. After retiring as a player in 1990, Castro spent 24 seasons as a minor league hitting instructor in the Montreal Expos (1990–91, 2002–03), Florida Marlins (1992–2001), San Diego Padres (2003–07) and Mariners (2008–13) organizations. He played 14 seasons in the minor leagues, including four in the White Sox system (1982–85).
Rodríguez, 63, begins his first season as the White Sox third-base coach after spending three seasons (2020–22) as Kansas City’s minor-league field coordinator. Among his 40 years of professional coaching experience, Rodríguez has served as the Royals third base coach (2011–13), Seattle’s first base coach (2008), Frank Robinson’s bench coach in Montreal (2004) and Washington (2005–06), Arizona’s third base (2002–03) and first base coach (2001) and Toronto’s third base coach (1998). After retiring as a player Rodríguez began his coaching career with a 15-year stint in the Angels’ organization from 1983–97.
Tosar, 54, enters his first season as the White Sox major-league field coordinator following three seasons (2020–22) as a special assignment hitting coach in the Kansas City organization. During his tenure in the Royals system, he worked with Bobby Witt Jr., Kyle Isbel, MJ Melendez, Ryan O’Hearn and Edward Olivares. Tosar previously served as an international scout and special assignment hitting coach with the Dodgers (2012–19), scout and minor-league coach in the Seattle organization (2006–09), hitting coach in the Minnesota organization (2002), scout with the Florida Marlins (2000–01), and coach in the Tampa Bay system (1996–99).
With a new coaching staff, as well as a new Senior Director of Sports Performance, the White Sox are hoping to overhaul some of their internal processes as they look to bounce back after a brutal 2022 campaign. This staff appears to be a great mix of some older, more experienced coaches (Tosar, Montoyo, Castro, Rodríguez, Hasler) with some younger, newer faces as well (Katz, Johnson, Head). With Castro specifically, the White Sox check the box of someone with recent championship experience in such an important position as hitting coach. It is not known what Tosar’s role will be, as the “Major League Field Coordinator” role is a new one for the White Sox.
It is unclear what opportunities may come for outgoing coaches Frank Menechino, Jerry Narron, Joe McEwing, Howie Clark, and Shelley Duncan, nor is it clear who will be replacing Chris Johnson down in Charlotte. However, as more information becomes available, we will continue to provide updates.
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Featured Image: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
So Grifol did not have autonomy to hire his staff as Sox claimed. I still see to much incestuous hiring!
1. Castro, ties to the Sox organization (4 years in the Sox minors)
2. Johnson, hittig coach in Charlotte (again ties to the Sox and look at the win/loss record last season for AAA)
3. Boston, honestly he has dirt on some one. After his little scandal, any other professionally run MLB organization would have fired him.
4. Katz – brought on for Giloito and we’ve seen how that is worked out. Should have been fired.
5. Hasler – 35 years in the Sox organization and one of Jerry’s favorites. Should have been fired.
6. Gonzalez & Sierra: both long time staples with the Sox.
Only Tosar and Rodríguez were legit outside hires with ties to Grifol. It has been rumored Montoya was in the running the manager and instead was hired for bench coach by Sox FO. Grifol had little input.
So, this all tells me, any changes the Sox boast is nothing but “White Wash”. The mediocrity will continue, until there is legit new ownership.