{"id":565125,"date":"2026-02-11T00:03:37","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T00:03:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/565125\/"},"modified":"2026-02-11T00:03:37","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T00:03:37","slug":"manager-will-venable-starting-at-zero-as-he-enters-second-season-leading-white-sox","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/565125\/","title":{"rendered":"Manager Will Venable ‘starting at zero’ as he enters second season leading White Sox"},"content":{"rendered":"

GLENDALE, Ariz. \u2014 It\u2019s Year Two for White Sox<\/a> manager Will Venable, and this time around, he might actually have something to work with.<\/p>\n

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\u2019 historically bad 2024 season.<\/p>\n

While Venable & Co. are loath to put a target win total<\/a> on record to snap the organization\u2019s 100-loss-season skid at three, general manager Chris Getz\u2019 offseason additions can inspire at least some hope of marginal improvement in Venable\u2019s career winning percentage.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

After overseeing Workout No. 1 of Season No. 2 on Tuesday, the Princeton-educated skipper said he\u2019s arrived at camp \u201cmore prepared, but we\u2019ve 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

That wasn\u2019t an uncommon sentiment from Venable throughout his inaugural campaign, holding focus on molding young players into competitors. While it\u2019s a work in progress, \u201cthere\u2019s some more clarity around the plan, he says.<\/p>\n

Managers have harped on fundamentals as long as there have been spring trainings, but Venable stresses his squad is \u201cstarting with zero.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re 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 \u2014 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 \u2026 and the focus will be those things and creating habits around those things on a daily basis,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Will<\/p>\n

Will Venable addresses the media at the White Sox spring training complex in Glendale, Arizona, on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

John Antonoff\/For the Sun-Times<\/p>\n

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<\/a> and hard-throwing reliever Seranthony Dominguez, moves that indicate front-office faith in a budding core.<\/p>\n

\u201cGetzy and the group have done everything they can to continue to make this group better,\u201d Venable said. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen that take shape in different ways. There\u2019s a lot behind the scenes. \u2029We\u2019ve seen it now with our roster as well. So, in every department, there just continues to be incredible growth.\u201d<\/p>\n

For his part, Getz says his first managerial hire in earnest \u2014 nevermind that dismal Pedro Grifol interlude \u2014 is \u201cdefinitely going to be more comfortable in the role\u201d with a season on the books.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast 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\u2019s got a year under his belt, he\u2019s equipped to do even better and be more confident,\u201d Getz said. \u201cHis communication skills are elite, his temperament \u2014 he understands what a manager is, and that\u2019s why we\u2019re so lucky to have him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Veteran Sox lefty Tyler Gilbert hailed Venable \u2014 a former outfielder for the Padres, Rangers and Dodgers \u2014 for managing \u201cthrough a player\u2019s lens.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI love him. He\u2019s very personable and it\u2019s great playing for him. He makes everyone in the clubhouse feel very comfortable. That\u2019s a huge thing, and that\u2019s a true quality of his,\u201d Gilbert said.<\/p>\n

Starter Shane Smith, a Rule 5 Draft-pick rookie All-Star under Venable\u2019s watch, predicted a little more edge from his manager.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat competitive streak is something he maybe hid a little bit more last year,\u201d Smith said. \u201cI think that\u2019s gonna come out a little more abruptly this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Pitchers and catchers formally reported to Glendale, where the Sox\u2019 new slugger has been getting in some of his first swings an route to an MLB debut.<\/p>\n

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Getz said the Sox are \u201cmaking meaningful strides\u201d as they kick off spring training this week, but they\u2019re not guaranteeing anything. <\/p>\n

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Isaiah Carranza, a 12th-round draft pick from 2018, never got past High-A, and he blames the team for allegedly pushing him to get the shot. Numerous studies have shown the vaccine is safe and effective. <\/p>\n

[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]
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Fedde was a rare bright spot on the Sox\u2019 dismal 2024 squad, but he struggled last season. <\/p>\n

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