Manager Will Venable 'starting at zero' as he enters second season leading White Sox
GLENDALE, Ariz. — It’s Year Two for White Sox manager Will Venable, and this time around, he might actually have something to work with.
No manager wants to start their career in a 102-loss hole, but the 43-year-old must have had some idea that triple-digit defeats were in the offing when he took the job on the heels of the Sox’ historically bad 2024 season.
While Venable & Co. are loath to put a target win total on record to snap the organization’s 100-loss-season skid at three, general manager Chris Getz’ offseason additions can inspire at least some hope of marginal improvement in Venable’s career winning percentage.
Players rave about the relaxed but driven atmosphere he brings to a young clubhouse. The only thing Venable might be better at than creating a welcoming environment, apparently, is avoiding talking about himself.
After overseeing Workout No. 1 of Season No. 2 on Tuesday, the Princeton-educated skipper said he’s arrived at camp “more prepared, but we’ve still got a lot of work to do here, and the focus will be on those things that we can do to help these guys to continue to develop and give them the things that they need to go out there and compete."
That wasn’t an uncommon sentiment from Venable throughout his inaugural campaign, holding focus on molding young players into competitors. While it’s a work in progress, “there’s some more clarity around the plan, he says.
Managers have harped on fundamentals as long as there have been spring trainings, but Venable stresses his squad is “starting with zero.”
“We're gonna let them know how proud of the group we are, and certainly the momentum that they created in the second half last year, the things that we were able to accomplish in the offseason — all these players had productive offseasons. Our coaches did a great job in helping these guys continue to develop through the offseason. But we have to start at zero … and the focus will be those things and creating habits around those things on a daily basis,” he said.
Venable should get to play a better hand on a daily basis this year following the following the promising arrivals of Colson Montgomery, Chase Meidroth, Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero, among others. Getz doubled down by bringing in Japanese star Munetaka Murakami and hard-throwing reliever Seranthony Dominguez, moves that indicate front-office faith in a budding core.
“Getzy and the group have done everything they can to continue to make this group better,” Venable said. “We've seen that take shape in different ways. There's a lot behind the scenes. We've seen it now with our roster as well. So, in every department, there just continues to be incredible growth.”
For his part, Getz says his first managerial hire in earnest — nevermind that dismal Pedro Grifol interlude — is “definitely going to be more comfortable in the role” with a season on the books.
“Last year in spring training, a lot of it was just getting to know the players, understanding the day-to-day operation of being a manager at the Major League level, and now that he's got a year under his belt, he's equipped to do even better and be more confident,” Getz said. “His communication skills are elite, his temperament — he understands what a manager is, and that's why we're so lucky to have him.”
Veteran Sox lefty Tyler Gilbert hailed Venable — a former outfielder for the Padres, Rangers and Dodgers — for managing “through a player’s lens.”
“I love him. He’s very personable and it's great playing for him. He makes everyone in the clubhouse feel very comfortable. That's a huge thing, and that’s a true quality of his,” Gilbert said.
Starter Shane Smith, a Rule 5 Draft-pick rookie All-Star under Venable’s watch, predicted a little more edge from his manager.
“That competitive streak is something he maybe hid a little bit more last year,” Smith said. “I think that's gonna come out a little more abruptly this year.”