Sizemore could be among holdovers on Venable's '25 staff

CHICAGO -- No timetable has been set for Will Venable’s first coaching staff to be put together, according to White Sox general manager Chris Getz.

But that staff should include some returnees from 2024, which was one of the many topics discussed during Thursday’s Zoom call that announced Venable as the 44th manager in White Sox franchise history.

“There will be coaches that are coming back,” Getz said. “We are working through the specific roles, and you know, we are just getting started having those conversations with Will, but there will be some familiar faces.”

Grady Sizemore will be a strong candidate for the new staff. Sizemore, 42, moved from Major League coach to manager after Pedro Grifol was dismissed on Aug. 8, and he finished with a 13-32 record in the interim role. It was a tough situation for Sizemore, guiding a team that ended a 21-game losing streak just two days prior to his promotion, but he improved the team’s morale and focus while earning strong support from those playing for him.

Getz provided that same support Thursday for Sizemore, who was in consideration for the position that ultimately went to Venable.

“I’m grateful for Grady to step up the way he did, what we asked him to do in a very trying time. I felt like he did exactly what we asked him to do in August and September, and [I] was proud of the relationship that he and I and others have grown with Grady,” Getz said. “Early on, when Will and I were talking, he asked about Grady. He said, ‘If I were to get this position, what would happen to Grady?’

“I said, ‘Listen, that’s up to you.’ I will say that he’s admired. Will had known that about Grady. He respected him as a player, he’s heard really good things and watched from afar. We’ve continued to have conversations on how Grady can fit and certainly take advantage of the skill sets and the traits that Grady has, and see if he can be part of improving this culture and getting us where we need to go. But I know that Will certainly holds Grady in high regards.”

Life-changing moment
Venable, who celebrated his 42nd birthday on Tuesday, was with his family when he found out the news of his managerial hire. He couldn’t put a number on the exact total of congratulatory texts, but he got the amount down to where he responded to everybody.

“It took the entire day yesterday and a little bit of the morning,” Venable said. “I’m just so appreciative of the love and support I got from everybody. I heard from some people I hadn’t heard from before, so that was great.

“I’ve had the opportunity to interview for these jobs, but the reality of something like this happening is still very much a dream that you almost think you are never going to achieve. It was just really special and I’m just thankful that I was chosen, but my family was happy, too. It was a great, great moment for us.”

Third to first
An in-person press conference involving Venable will take place on Nov. 8 at Guaranteed Rate Field.

The General Managers Meetings begin Monday in San Antonio, Texas, with Getz in attendance.

Getz gave praise to the baseball operations department for coming together over a two-month span and putting together a hiring and interview process that reflected what the White Sox represent as an organization.

“That was really important to me. Obviously, that’s not the priority,” Getz said. “The priority is to find the best candidate to fit in with the White Sox organization as the manager.

“We’re still taking shape as a leadership group. This was generally our first year working together, a lot of new faces, new ideas. But it really forced us and allowed us to really spend some intentional time together to develop what is important to us, what are our values.”