The Chicago White Sox are set to name Will Venable as their manager.
Multiple outlets reported the former outfielder is the choice of general manager Chris Getz to replace Pedro Grifol, fired in August amid Chicago’s historically bad campaign, and interim manager Grady Sizemore.
The White Sox finished the 2024 season with a 41-121 mark, breaking the record for single-season losses in baseball’s modern era.
Venable, who turned 42 Tuesday, has spent the past two seasons as the associate manager of the Texas Rangers, an apprenticeship of sorts under Bruce Bochy, who has led four teams to World Series titles.
A California native, Venable spent nine seasons (2008-16) in the major leagues, playing for the San Diego Padres, Rangers and Los Angeles Dodgers. He had a .249 batting average in 967 games.
After his playing career, he also coached for the Chicago Cubs (2018-20) and Boston Red Sox (2021-22).