The search has come to an end.
Rangers associate manager Will Venable will be named as the White Sox’s new skipper, sources confirm to Sox On 35th. The highly sought-after coach comes to Chicago after serving as Bruce Bochy’s right-hand man for the last two seasons.
Venable, who is celebrating his 42nd birthday on Tuesday, has been in a few different roles since retiring after a nine-year big league career. He first joined the Cubs as a special assistant to president Theo Epstein in September 2017, only to serve as the team’s first base coach from 2018-19 and third base coach in 2020. Venable then left Chicago for the Red Sox ahead of the 2021 campaign to become Alex Cora’s bench coach, where he remained for two years before joining Bochy’s staff in 2023.
Venable has long been considered one of the league’s top up-and-coming potential managers, especially in Texas for when Bochy would eventually retire. Even before the Rangers won the World Series in 2023, Venable was linked to other openings but declined interviews with the Mets and Guardians due to “comfort with his situation.” With Bochy telling reporters that managing still “drives” him after the season, Venable ultimately reconsidered his options and emerged as a finalist in both the Chicago and Miami searches.
Now that the White Sox have their 44th manager in franchise history, Venable’s coaching staff will begin to take shape in the coming days. Interim manager Grady Sizemore, who was in the running for the full-time role, is expected to stay on in some capacity. As soon as we get confirmation and additional information, we will provide further updates.
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Featured Photo: © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
